Country Press Australia (CPA) has welcomed what it says is a "vital" $15 million funding lifeline from the Federal Government into regional and independent news publishers as debate continues around the future of local journalism against the uncertain future of the News Media Bargaining Code.

Earlier this week, the Australian Government announced $15 million in urgent funding for regional and community news. Opening in November, the News Media Relief Program (NMRP) will provide grants to eligible regional, independent suburban, multicultural and First Nations news publishers creating news content.

The news content must be distributed online, but can also be distributed in other formats. The funding equates to $13,000 per journalist FTE employed to produce core news content, and must be expended in the 2024-25 financial year.

The grants will be open to regional or suburban publishers with an annual revenue under $30 million, or which predominantly serve First Nations and multicultural communities, with the primary purpose of publishing core news content.

CPA president and Warragul & Drouin Gazette publisher Andrew Schreyer said the NMRP will provide vital funding to CPA's eligible regional and independent suburban member mastheads. He noted the industry is undergoing a period of rapid technological change, resulting in reduced advertising revenue and higher printing and operating costs.

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP said the funding provided urgent assistance to local news outlets as it continues to work on the News MAP program to support the Australian news sector longer term.

"Local and community news outlets play a huge role in supporting a diverse and inclusive news media sector that is so vital to the healthy functioning of Australian society and democracy. We want to see more local journalists and publishers reporting on the issues that matter to their communities," she said.

It also comes as publishers of all creeds and scale are close to consensus on the Federal government winding back its earlier aggressive rhetoric to “designate” Meta under the News Bargaining Code, forcing it and publishers into arbitration to land news funding deals.

Schreyer pointed out the significant blow to the industry following Meta's announcement on March 1, 2024, that it will not renew agreements with Australian publishers. He urged all eligible publishers to respond to this funding opportunity as quickly as possible once more details are made available and applications open.

"The funding supports the local, place-based journalism our member mastheads produce, and often they are the only producer of public interest journalism in the communities they serve so it's vital they remain strong. Local news is essential to social cohesion and a well-functioning democracy, and this program directly supports the production of this local journalism covering the matters important to their communities," Schreyer added.

Country Press Australia (CPA) represents more than 230 publishers in every state and territory and has campaigned for urgent industry assistance to help businesses navigate their way through one of the industry’s most challenging periods. Schreyer said the $15m would not only support publishers while the industry awaits the much-anticipated News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) outcomes, but it would also help place a greater value and recognition on the important work undertaken by publishers of public interest journalism in regional, rural and local communities.

The NMRP forms part of the Government’s broader efforts to safeguard Australia’s media diversity and promote public interest journalism, through the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP).

Earlier this year, the Government completed consultation on News MAP which will provide a principles-based policy framework for future interventions to ensure the news sector remains robust and strong.