Independent publishers from across Australia are to work together to develop shared technology, improve digital capabilities and explore new commercial opportunities, as part of a plan supported by new government funding.
Country Press Australia has announced the national initiative “designed to strengthen the future of independent regional news media through digital innovation, improved commercial sustainability and new opportunities for collaboration and growth”.
The programme is supported by the federal government’s News Innovation Fund.
Among new commercial opportunities, it will look at emerging markets for licensing news content to AI and other technology companies.
CPA president Damian Morgan (pictured) said the aim was to help smaller publishers access technological and commercial opportunities that could be difficult to pursue individually, “building on the strengths of independent regional news publishers and helping position them for the future”.
“For generations, independent regional publishers have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt, innovate and serve their communities, often with limited resources,” he said. “However, smaller publishers do not always have the resources or scale to invest in the technology, digital expertise and new business models that are increasingly important to modern news publishing.”
The programme will assess the digital capabilities of participating publishers and provide practical support to improve audience development, publishing systems, newsroom productivity, digital advertising and commercial performance. It will also explore and implement shared technology solutions, including AI and automation.
A “major component” will focus on developing a collective content licensing framework to help publishers capitalise on the increasing commercial value of trusted, original journalism.