Labor commits to regional publishers

AN election pledge from the Labor Party would see support for regional newspaper publishers continue if re-elected.

Announced last Friday at the Victorian Country Press Association annual conference, the commitment of one full-page advertisement per week purchased by the State Government for the next term of parliament continues a program begun during the pandemic.

The spend could help offset increasing costs of production for newspaper publishers, with paper prices, wage increases, and other inflationary pressures impacting production.

“Whether it’s a bushfire, a flood emergency or a global pandemic, time and time again we have seen regional newspapers step up and serve their communities in incredibly important ways,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“Labor is doing what matters, backing regional media outlets with guaranteed advertising revenue so they can keep supporting their local communities.”

A statement from the State Government said more than $20 million had been spent on advertising in regional media outlets during the pandemic.

The Bendigo Times and publisher Times News Group has received support from the current State Government program and could benefit from the election pledge.