Federal Member of Parliament Bob Katter has said that newspapers could resurrect themselves on an “owner-operator basis” following News Corp Australia’s announcement that over 100 regional and community titles will be digital-only from June 29.
Katter said that “decentralisation of newspaper ownership is a positive” and there is an opportunity for the state and federal governments to provide finance to support owner-operators.
Lamenting the impact in his regional Queensland electorate, the federal member for Kennedy said: “Today was a sad day for regional journalism and democracy with the end of printed editions of many regional newspapers including the Northern Miner, Herbert River Express, Atherton Tablelander, and Innisfail Advocate.”
Katter said he feels for every journalist, editor, salesperson, and staff who found out today that they may lose their jobs.
“I ran a little newspaper in Cloncurry, and I have always believed that having news printed on a piece of paper is infinitely more valuable than having it on a computer screen,” he said.
Katter believes there is a market in regional areas for printed newspapers but admits they may not run on the same scale they once did.
Victorian Labor MP Catherine King echoed Katter’s sentiment about the impact on regional towns, saying that “newspapers are at the heart of regional communities across Australia.”
Journalists Like the Idea
The idea of decentralising newspaper ownership seems to have garnered initial support among some journalists.AAP reporter Benita Kolovis wrote on Twitter: “I agree with Bob Katter.”
Federal MP for New England Barnaby Joyce said that “competence and experience” was needed for a rigorous fourth estate that is “essential for a vibrant democracy.”
