Funding the way forward for Australian news

In the latest episode of Double Take, Derek brings together Julie Eisenberg and Angela Flannery for a conversation about the future of news funding in Australia, moving beyond policy to focus on the broader forces reshaping the media landscape.

They ask how to sustainably fund public interest journalism without compromising independence or competition. The proposed News Bargaining Incentive (NBI) sits at the heart of that debate, raising questions about who decides and who benefits, and how accountability is managed.

Julie draws from her research for CMT on funding models from Australia and around the world. Her insights point to practical solutions such as the role of independent funding bodies and hybrid models that blend public, private and platform contributions.

Angela interrogates the real-world implications of the NBI and related reforms. She raises critical concerns about the limits of the current policy scope and situates news policy in a broader ecosystem, arguing that competition reform may be as important as direct funding measures.

Julie and Angela make clear that the decisions being made now could shape not just the sustainability of journalism, but its independence and diversity for years to come.

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