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EDITORIAL

Australia Day a chance to reflect on exceptional community service

In every corner of Australia, community service is placed in the spotlight on Australia Day.
People from all walks of life come together to celebrate achievement at all levels, from the presentation of Australia Day Honours to acknowledging dedication at a community level.
Narrabri Shire has no shortage of great achievers and this was evident at the presentation of local Australia Day awards on Friday morning.
The presentation of awards is a reminder of extraordinary service to the community.
This service takes many forms, through community groups, sporting clubs, achievements and just generally being a person who is both kind in spirit and with time.
There is no greater gift than giving back to the community.
That investment in time is usually returned and more, through the friendships and connections you make while rolling up your sleeves and getting to know your community in greater detail.
Australia Day also serves as a reminder of the great work community and sporting groups provide at a local level.
In towns and cities, small and large, these groups are the glue which keep communities together.
Without these organisations, important services, cultural and sporting activities our communities would be poorer.
From the volunteer firefighters who put their lives on the line to the groups which fundraise for services and facilities, every organisation and individual plays an important role in the fabric of our society.
The greatest gift you can give back to your nation is to volunteer in your community.

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Your Say

Local news and local jobs at risk following Meta announcement

By Andrew Schreyer, president, Country Press Australia
Australia’s largest organisation of newspaper publishers has attacked the announcement by Meta that it will no longer negotiate deals with publishers once current agreements expire.
Country Press Australia represents more than 230 regional, rural and outer suburban publications across the nation.
The organisation was advised through an email from Meta early Friday afternoon that “our company priorities have substantially shifted in the past year and, as a result, we will no longer be making Facebook News Tab available in Australia”.
Meta also confirmed “This doesn’t affect our agreement with Country Press Australia which will continue in accordance with its terms and conditions until it expires”.
In a subsequent meeting on Friday afternoon between Country Press Australia and Meta it was made clear that Country Press Australia’s agreement with Meta would not be renewed.
This is a devastating blow to our members who are party to the agreement. All are publishers of regional and local public interest journalism.
Meta has been providing grants to Country Press Australia publishers which has provided vital sustainability.
There will be publishers who close the doors and won’t be able to continue supporting their communities with news in the wake of this announcement. These regional and local publishers are the major, and in most cases sole, providers of local public interest journalism in their communities.
In times of trouble and in emergency situations, such as during floods and in major bushfire events, the local publisher’s Facebook page is never more important or appreciated by people in our communities.
Meta’s actions undermine our democracy in the way the company displays such disdain for the work of the news industry. It also undermines public confidence in the media sector.
The most popular Facebook pages in most regional and rural communities are those of the local news publishing company, yet Meta says people don’t go to Facebook for news or political content.
What about in times of bushfire and floods or when the chips are down and someone in the community needs help? Local experience would suggest otherwise.
If, by Meta’s own admission, Australians don’t go to Facebook for news or political content, then the federal government should heed the advice of Meta and immediately cease advertising on Meta’s platforms.
Sadly, jobs will definitely be lost as a result of Meta’s decision, but it’s hard to put a number on this.
Given the already well-documented challenges our industry faces (major cost increases for newsprint, ink, energy and the decline in federal government advertising spend), this announcement will force many publishers to confront the issues ahead of them and cut staff.
The reaction from our members in the aftermath of Friday’s announcement has been one of deep concern, alarm and even anger.
The federal government must act to give assurance to our industry and to support the democratic infrastructure that is the newspaper industry. And it needs to move swiftly, decisively and with purpose.
We need government to support the news industry and invoke the news media bargaining code.
Our government must also do what it can to assure Australians that the government values the news industry’s role in our democracy to mitigate disruptions to the news industry.
Facebook reaped the benefits of our members’ unique local content for many years, and has paid those local and regional publishers for only the last three years and will now not renew their agreement with Country Press Australia.
A democracy cannot function without a healthy news sector, and this is now heavily at risk in regional and local communities after Meta’s decision.
It is important that the federal government responds swiftly to this decision and considers all possible action including designating Meta under the News Media Bargaining Code and other options available to them and the ACCC.
It is vital that news media is adequately compensated for the content that Facebook has been able to build their business from over many years and ensure a strong and robust news media industry which is vital for a healthy democracy.
It is also vital that the federal government ensures strong support of the industry now more than ever before and ensures the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) is finalised urgently.
The Courier and its sister publications the Gunnedah Times and the North Western Guide are members of Country Press NSW and Country Press Australia.

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