AUSTRALIA’S REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS ARE UNDER THREAT - Media Release, Wednesday 17 May 2017
Today I am calling on Fairfax and News Corp to guarantee that no future job cuts will come from its Tasmanian newspapers.
Listening to evidence today at the Senate Select Committee’s inquiry on the Future of Public Interest Journalism proves that the future of Australia’s regional newspapers are under threat.
Staff at Fairfax have been given no assurance about the future of their jobs if a takeover of Fairfax by TPG goes ahead.
The Committee has heard that 500 journalism jobs have been cut in the regions over the last two years.
Regional journalism has been cut to the bone.
If we lost our regional newspapers entirely it would rip the heart out of local communities. Who would share the stories of local arts and cultural festivals that are often the lifeblood of local communities?
Previous cuts to the ABC in Tasmania have been at the detriment of local reporting and storytelling. Regional voices must not be silenced as a result of changes in the media landscape.
WEDNESDAY, 17 MAY 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: TAIMUS WERNER-GIBBINGS 0429 820 344