Community & Business
9 November, 2026
Country Press Australia receives funding under the News Innovation Fund to support member publications
This major national initiative will strengthen the future of independent regional news media
Country Press Australia is embarking on a major national initiative designed to strengthen the future of independent regional news media through digital innovation, improved commercial sustainability and new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Supported by the Australian Government's News Innovation Fund, the initiative will bring together independent publishers from across Australia to develop shared technology, improve digital capabilities and explore new commercial opportunities, including emerging markets for licensing news content to artificial intelligence and other technology companies.
Country Press Australia (CPA), representing 107 independent publishers and 237 news publications nationally, will lead the program, which aims to help smaller publishers access technological and commercial opportunities that can be difficult to pursue individually.
CPA president Damian Morgan said the initiative represented an important opportunity to build on the strengths of independent regional news publishers and help position them for the future.
"For generations, independent regional publishers have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt, innovate and serve their communities, often with limited resources," Mr Morgan said.
"However, smaller publishers do not always have the resources or scale to invest in the technology, digital expertise and new business models that are increasingly important to modern news publishing.
"This initiative will help address those challenges by providing access to shared expertise, practical support and new opportunities, while preserving the independence and local identity that make these publishers so valuable."
The program will assess the digital capabilities of participating publishers and provide practical support to improve audience development, publishing systems, newsroom productivity, digital advertising and commercial performance.
It will also explore and implement shared technology solutions, including AI and automation, that can reduce duplication, improve efficiency and provide smaller publishers with access to tools that might otherwise be beyond their reach.
A major component will focus on developing a collective content licensing framework to help publishers capitalise on the increasing commercial value of trusted, original journalism.
Mr Morgan said the opportunities emerging from artificial intelligence and new content markets could be particularly significant.
"Independent regional publishers collectively produce an enormous volume of original journalism that is trusted by communities and increasingly valuable in the digital economy.
Advertisement"By working together, we can create the scale and infrastructure needed to participate in these emerging markets and ensure that publishers have opportunities to receive appropriate commercial returns for the content they produce. Rather than having individual publishers navigate these challenges alone, we can develop practical solutions that benefit the industry collectively."
Mr Morgan said the initiative was also an important investment in the future of Australian democracy.
"Independent local journalism plays an essential role in holding governments and institutions accountable, giving communities a voice and ensuring people have access to reliable information about the issues that affect their lives. When a local news organisation disappears, communities lose much more than a publication. They lose an important part of their democratic infrastructure.
"Protecting that role means ensuring independent journalism has a viable commercial future. We cannot expect local news media to remain strong and independent without sustainable business models to support it."
Mr Morgan said the initiative would allow CPA to build on its existing work supporting independent publishers and focus on practical measures that could deliver lasting benefits.
"There has been considerable discussion about the challenges confronting regional news media, and this funding provides an opportunity to put more practical solutions into place.
"We will work directly with publishers to identify where improvements can make the greatest difference and support the adoption of technology, skills and commercial approaches that suit their individual businesses. Our objective is to help build a stronger, more innovative and commercially sustainable independent publishing sector, with benefits that continue well beyond the life of the project."
The program will be delivered nationally through CPA, with participating publishers retaining full ownership of their businesses, content and editorial decisions.
Mr Morgan said CPA was extremely appreciative of the Australian Government's funding and its recognition of the vital role independent regional news publishers play in communities across the country.
"At a time when social media misinformation is increasingly widespread and artificial intelligence is changing how information is created, distributed and consumed, the importance of trusted, independent journalism has never been greater.
"Our publishers play a critical role in local democracy. They hold elected representatives and institutions accountable, provide accurate and reliable information, and give communities a voice on the issues that matter most to them.
"We sincerely thank the Federal Government for recognising both the importance of this work and the need to ensure it remains commercially sustainable. This investment is not just about the future of independent regional news media. It is an investment in informed communities, stronger local democracy and the continued availability of trusted journalism across Australia."
