The ABC has announced a proposal to share its digital news content with local news outlets in regional, rural and remote Australia during major events affecting their communities.
Managing Director Hugh Marks flagged the plan in a speech to the ABC Friends NSW & ACT last night, saying the initiative would enhance Australians' access to essential news and information as well as assisting the sustainability of local journalism provided by other outlets.
Reporting from 68 sites throughout Australia, including 58 regional locations, the ABC has an unmatched newsgathering presence.
Outlets participating in the project would have access to ABC NEWS digital news content on significant events, such as road, rail and air incidents, extreme weather events, public health crises, violent protests, major power outages, telecommunications failures and transport system shutdowns.
The proposal builds on the ABC's longstanding commitment to collaborate with media in the interests of audiences, from partnerships in the South Pacific to Indigenous media associations and community broadcasting.
ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks: "The ABC is the most trusted source of news during major events. By sharing our content with regional outlets we're ensuring every Australian can access reliable information about breaking events affecting their community.
"This initiative will also help strengthen the sustainability of local journalism. Newsroom cutbacks have made it increasingly difficult for local news providers, potentially leading to significant gaps in coverage. I'm committed to leading an ABC that supports local news sustainability."
ABC Director, News Justin Stevens: "This is the coverage in which the ABC excels - using its unrivalled news network to provide reliable, high-quality news and information to regional communities while adding important context for national audiences.
"We recognise local producers don't always have the resources to do this type of reporting and it's in the national interest to reach as many Australians as possible."
The initiative is informed by the Australian Local News Resilience Project, an ABC-backed Australian Research Council project led by Deakin University with Griffith University. It identified emergency news coverage as a priority area for collaboration between regional news producers and the ABC.
It's estimated that since 2019 more than 200 local newspapers in regional Australia have significantly cut their service or closed. The loss of outlets means fewer journalists, decreased media diversity and less original reporting and genuine local news. It affects the talent pipeline for professional journalism in Australia and increases the community's vulnerability to disinformation and misinformation.
Professor Kristy Hess, Deakin University, Project Lead on the Australian Local News Resilience Project: "Sharing emergency content will help many small local news producers whose resources are often stretched to the limit.
"During these times local journalists are on the ground reporting, as well as trying to cover all the other local news relevant to their area, so this content will enhance the quality of coverage for the benefit of communities."
To be eligible to join the scheme, outlets would have to be a genuine media organisation providing a reputable public news service to an established audience, have a robust system for handling complaints and be a member of a relevant media association.
The ABC will continue consulting with regional providers on how to implement the scheme during 2026.
