Public interest journalism informs citizens, scrutinises power and strengthens accountability. But Australia’s news ecosystem is under pressure. Read more from PIJI chair Professor Allan Fels AO: piji.com.au/blog/allan-f...

Eliot Higgins started blogging partly to “win arguments on the internet”. Now he helps run an international team of journalists investigating everything from war crimes to wildlife trafficking. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/belling...

When journalists can investigate, scrutinise and hold power to account, governments and institutions are more likely to act in the public interest. This makes safeguarding public interest journalism critical to protecting and renewing Australia’s democracy. (1/3)

The release of the News Bargaining Incentive is welcome, if overdue. But it is unfolding in a far less forgiving global environment than when these reforms were conceived. Read more from PIJI chair Professor Allan Fels AO: piji.com.au/blog/news-ba...

PIJI chair Allan Fels AO in Guardian Australia, speaking about the release of the Australian government's News Bargaining Incentive draft legislation: (1/3)

The success of the National Indigenous Times is quietly defying industry trends. In addition to a digital presence, the small independent, 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned organisation produces multiple physical publications at a profit. Read more to find out how: piji.com.au/blog/nationa...

7News chief reporter Chris Reason and Sydney Morning Herald chief photographer Kate Geraghty give PIJI insight into how they navigate politics, ethics and physical danger to report from war zones – and why. piji.com.au/blog/journal... #PublicInterest #Journalism #War #7News #SydneyMorningHerald

Australia’s public broadcasters have been ordered not to destroy any records that may be needed to inform the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, raising concerns over the protection of confidential sources. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/disposa... #PIJI #ABC #SBS #RoyalCommission

Sean Johnson left behind a career of policy advising and lobbying to launch Open Politics, a website shedding light on the private interests that could be impacting the decisions of Australia’s federal MPs. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/open-po... #PIJI #auspol #OpenPolitics

When flames or floods close in, local broadcasters are a valued source of potentially life-saving updates for Australians.   Bill Murray, acting manager of Bendigo-based KLFM, says his team are “critically aware” of their “role in keeping people alive”. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/emergen...

While many spent the recent end-of-year holiday period relaxing and celebrating, Camilla Westerlund was coming to terms with the end of a 21-year chapter of her life. In January, she announced Business News Australia had entered liquidation. piji.com.au/blog/busines...

The Bondi Beach terror attack brought Australia to a halt – and simultaneously pushed newsrooms into overdrive, rushing to report the latest updates on the country’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996. piji.com.au/blog/bondi-a... #BondiAttack #Bondi #PublicInterest #Journalism #News #PIJI

The launch of the first of two rounds of News MAP grants is a welcome sign of relief to come – but some industry players say it still falls short of the support needed for the pursuit of sustainability and media diversity. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/news-ma... #NewsMAP #PIJI #journalism

Nearing two years since Meta walked away from commercial deals with news publishers, the Australian government is attempting to draw the tech giant back in with a proposal to strengthen the News Media Bargaining Code. piji.com.au/blog/news-ba...

Tech giants and Australian media companies have a month to give feedback on a revived effort to force the likes of Meta and Google to pay for news, almost a year after the News Bargaining Incentive was announced. www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/lab...

When a century-old local paper printed its final edition, the South Gippsland community took action rather than stoically succumb to the steady decline of local news. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/prom-co...

To rewrite a popular adage, ‘build an audience, and advertisers will come’. In the current digital era, that dream is hard to make reality for news startups, as Peter Holmes found out the hard way. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/orange-... #PIJI #LocalNews #IndependentNews #Journalism

The Federal Government’s News MAP funding package, announced in December 2024, remains untouched – not a single cent has been spent to support struggling independent media.

"The Australian government faces a defining moment in shaping the future of our media landscape," writes PIJI chair Allan Fels AO in The Australian. www.theaustralian.com.au/business/med...

Feeling “incredibly frustrated” at the lack of Australian outlets taking young people's political opinions seriously, Hannah Ferguson co-founded Cheek Media in 2020, a venture that's since netted thousands of subscribers. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/hannah-... #CheekMedia #IndependentMedia #PIJI

As authoritarian pressure on journalism mounts, former foreign correspondent Peter Greste opens up on being persecuted for his work and IFJ, Asia-Pacific regional director Jane Worthington talks the alliances needed to protect media freedom. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/democra...

As the year nears its end, Australia still awaits movement on promised government measures intended to support a sustainable public interest journalism sector. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/progres... #NewsMAP #NewsBargainingIncentive #PublicInterest #Journalism #PIJI #auspol

An international investigation found Google and Meta’s public policy battles with governments and some major media outlets to stop or delay media bargaining bills have been vigorous, sustained, and in many countries, successful. www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/17/b...

At a time when technology makes it easier than ever to trick and mislead, media literacy is vital. Yet too many Australians lack the necessary skillset to sort truth from false. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/combatt... #PIJI #medialiteracy #misinformation #disinformation

@6newsau.bsky.social founder @leopuglisi6.bsky.social began reporting at just 11 years old. He tells PIJI he understands the intention of Australia's upcoming social media ban for under-16s, but is confident it will not be effective. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/social-...

The credibility of public interest journalism relies on factual reporting, yet media teams committed to uncovering the truth are struggling to endure. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/fact-ch... #PIJI #publicinterest #journalism #AAP #ABC #factcheck

Initially a four-week fiery burst of protest in the wake of the 2016 Brexit referendum, @thenewworldmag.bsky.social continues to grow nine years on – relying solely on reader revenue. Founder and editor-in-chief Matt Kelly tells PIJI how: piji.com.au/blog/the-new... #PIJI #TheNewWorld

A last-minute lifeline thrown by the federal government to @lina.org.au kept the doors from shutting on one of Australia’s most active supporters of small news publishers. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/lina-fu... #PIJI #publicinterest #journalism #news #LINA #localnews #independentnews #NewsMAP

PIJI's August newsletter is out now! This month's issue includes a look at why Canada’s decision to rescind its digital services tax does not signal doom for Australia’s efforts to get tech giants to the bargaining table. piji.com.au/blog/news-me...

Interested in receiving updates and insight on the state of the news industry in Australia and around the world? Sign up to PIJI’s free monthly newsletter today: piji.com.au#mailing-list #PIJI #publicinterest #journalism #news #publicinterestjournalism #newsletter #signup

Facing a shaky future and seeing fellows fall, merge, or erect paywalls to survive, the Guardian turned to its large global readership for aid almost a decade ago and has not looked back. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/guardia... #PIJI #publicinterestjournalism #journalism #guardian #guardianaus

Over time, journalists’ access to policymakers has become increasingly restricted. But there is a cost when the focus is on controlling the message and minimising authentic engagement, writes Croakey Health Media editor-in-chief Melissa Sweet. Read more: piji.com.au/blog/protect... #journalism

From major triumphs to muted efforts, PIJI examined some of the biggest international developments in news media bargaining agreements over the past 12 months across Canada, the US, Indonesia and South Africa. piji.com.au/blog/latest-... #PIJI #journalism #Meta #Google #OnlineNewsAct

It is incumbent on the government to stand firm in its commitment to reform the news landscape by holding tech platforms to account and providing greater support for smaller, independent and regional publishers, writes PIJI Chair Allan Fels. piji.com.au/blog/allan-f...

ACMA has published the final instalment of its 'News media in Australia' 2025 report, which draws on work from PIJI’s Australian News Data Project: www.acma.gov.au/news-media-a...

Applications closing soon! Mid-career investigative journalists are invited to apply for the Masters & McKenzie Fellowship by 12 May for the opportunity to attend a two-day Sydney workshop featuring in-depth sessions with Walkley-winning journalists. #investigativejournalism #journalism

"Transparency and accountability are paramount ... It is essential any financial support for journalism is tied directly to public interest outcomes." – PIJI Chair Professor Allan Fels AO on what it would take for public interest journalism to thrive. www.theaustralian.com.au/business/med...