The largest-ever national survey of country newspapers and their importance to the communities they serve has been released and the results show that their readers see them as an “essential service” in their towns and districts.
The Australia-wide study, involving researchers from Deakin and RMIT universities and supported by the Australian Research Council, was released recently by Country Press Australia.
The survey was undertaken during a period which saw many towns and suburbs across Australia lose their local papers because of the impact of the COVID crisis on local economies.
However, it has since become evident that printed country papers are emerging from the dark period due to the strong demand and passion from readers who prefer the printed format 2.5 times more than a digital format.
The survey, entitled ‘Media Innovation and Civic Future of Australia’s Country Press’, found that readers valued highly their papers as reliable sources of important local news and information.
The lead researcher, Professor Kirsty Hess, of Deakin University, observed the importance of local papers to their communities in the preface to the report: “When practised well, country journalism informs, educates and entertains a public that is often marginalised in favour of their big metropolitan counterparts. It contributes to a functioning local democracy and public sphere, creates a shared sense of community and fulfills a watchdog role by providing a check and balance on institutions such as local government, courts, churches, schools and police.”
Professor Hess added that the sustainability of regional media at the local level had been identified as a national priority.
While mature and older adults reported being regular readers of their ‘local’, the survey found that country people were overall 2.5 times more likely to read their local paper rather than seek on-line sources.
Social and community communication via a local paper (such as through Letters to the Editor sections and death notices) were highly valued with respondents keen to see more such information.
When it came to key local issues and local emergencies the local paper was seen as a key resource.
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