community sustainability aHer the elec3on". "We will move urgently to deliver this new round following the elec3on, working closely with the sector, with payments expected to be made from 1 July when newsprint prices are due to increase." The following day, on May 9th,2022 the Canberra Times reported that "AHer Labor leader Anthony Albanese flagged an inten3on to protect regional mastheads last week, a party spokesman on Monday confirmed it would match the Coali3on's commitment. "An Albanese Labor Government will deliver a support package to help the media through the transi3on from a decade of Liberal Na3onal government mismanagement to a principled-based and evidence-informed approach under Labor, including funding to address the newsprint crisis." Next came the report on May 13th that Labor had "unveiled a $29 million package to support regional, local and community media, which includes matching the Coali3on's lifeline to papers under threat from rising prin3ng costs". "In addi3on to the $10 million fund for regional newspapers, an Albanese government would set aside $5 million to support independent suburban, First Na3ons and mul3cultural publishers". This commitment comes on top of a $10.3 million bailout as ACM cried poor over lost revenues due to Covid. In 2021 Australian Community Media was awarded more than $10m in Covid grants while scaling back newspapers. Of ACM’s 138 publica3ons, 86 were suspended during the coronavirus pandemic. One of these, the Moruya Examiner, was meant to be restored but wasn't. The then-communica3ons minister, Paul Fletcher, said at the 3me of the announcement “In the case of newspaper publishers the funding is condi3onal on 3tles which have been suspended recommencing prin3ng, recommencing publica3ons, and that will be a condi3on of the grant agreements which must be entered into before funding can flow.” “In the case of newspaper publishers, that funding is for print newspapers. And so where prin3ng of newspaper edi3ons has been suspended, that will need to recommence before funding can flow.” The Moruya Examiner never returned and the Bay Post went from twice a week to once a week whilst only becoming a shadow of its former masthead that once played a respected and vital role in informing and including its community. It is now liLle more than a clone and a vehicle for adver3sing.
beagle weekly : Vol 264 June 17th 2022
15
