In a statement to the Australian Federal Government’s Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications, ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks announced that the ABC is working on a project to “assist local media improve the breadth and quality of local news coverage”.
The project follows an announcement that the ABC will share its crisis and emergency-related digital news content with local news outlets in regional, rural and remote Australia which will see local news outlets able to access ABC NEWS digital news content on significant events from major road accidents and community safety incidents to natural disasters and public health emergencies.
According to Hugh Marks, “We are focused on strengthening, not lessening, coverage in and of regional and rural Australia, where I believe the ABC can play an important leadership role in ensuring the availability of local services in local communities. Especially at a time when we are witnessing a large withdrawal of media services across Australia – 166 in the past 5 years with 60 per cent in regional and rural areas.
“This initiative will also help strengthen the sustainability of local journalism. I’m committed to leading an ABC that supports local news sustainability. So, in addition to the ABC’s own activities we are currently working on a project to assist local media improve the breadth and quality of local news coverage to further enhance the quality of civic discourse and information.
“This is not about replacement of news by the ABC but the ability to promote new growth in those areas so there is more media diversity. Reimagining the role the ABC can play more broadly in markets that would benefit from assistance.”