Union urges government to open up $40m fund to regional publishers and prevent further closures

As the impacts of COVID-19 force small newspapers to shutter, the union for journalists is urging the government to grant such publishers access to $40m in funding to stay afloat.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) said the funds have already been allocated to a Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation Package, but this must be repurposed into a survival fund. Regional papers including the Sunraysia Daily, Swan Hill Guardian, Gannawarra Times, Yarram Standard and Great Southern Star have already closed due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.