As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold all sectors of the economy are affected and the impact on journalism is profound. While there has been a dramatic increase in news consumption, advertising revenue and sponsorship is declining at a rapid rate and media organisations are struggling with the financial implications of the crisis. After consulting with industry leaders the Judith Neilson Institute today announced three initiatives to support media organisations and journalists during the disruption:
Boosting funding for freelancers and casual contributors;
Providing a free news service for Australia’s 450 community radio stations; and
Helping to tackle misinformation on COVID-19, including on social media.
You can view the press release here and to learn more about these initiatives, please visit our website at www.jninstitute.org. COVID-19 has also had an impact on JNI’s activities. While most of our grant projects are continuing we have postponed our education initiatives and events until further notice. We are working closely with our project partners and grant recipients to provide them with the flexibility and support they need to navigate the evolving situation. Mark Ryan Executive Director