Consultation opens on News Media Assistance Program (News MAP)

Feedback from the community will help guide how government supports public interest journalism and media diversity.

The consultation process will seek views on the draft Policy Framework, potential measures to support public interest journalism, and establishing an evidence base to inform future policy.

The News MAP program includes 4 key policy outcomes:

  • Access—because everyone should have access to public interest journalism
  • Quality—Australians expect public-interest journalism to be accurate and impartial
  • Diversity—the Australian Government wants to foster a media landscape where local news can thrive and where a diversity of voices are heard
  • Engagement—the Australian Government is supporting a number of measures to promote media literacy, which will improve Australians' skills to critically engage with news and information.

Feedback on the News MAP Policy Framework will shape future policy settings and their implementation—including the role of government.

The Australian Government will also provide an additional $6 million (on top of the $5 million it provided during the 2023–24 Budget) to help sustain the Australian Associated Press (AAP) newswire service.

Consultation on the framework closes on 22 February 2024. To make a submission visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/news-media-assistance-program-news-map.

Find out more