The Future of Public Interest Journalism

As discussed in earlier entries, the recent AFP raids on journalists put investigative and public interest journalism at serious risk.  The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) sees public interest as the freedom of the media to investigate, and inform and comment on matters of public concern and importance. ALRC does not put a singular definition on public interest, instead creating a list of public interest matters, providing parties and the court with useful guidance. The list, including what I have just mentioned above, also includes
  • Freedom of expression, including political communication
  • The proper administration of government
  • Open justice
  • Public health and safety
  • National security
  • The prevention and detection of crime and fraud
  • The economic wellbeing of the country


All these factors contribute in assisting courts and parties into making appropriate cause of action, hopefully reducing litigation. 

We have seen public interest journalism in crisis, with thousands of journalists jobs being cut and media organisations declining. On World Press Freedom Day, 2017 Fairfax Media announced downsizing. 125 journalists lost their jobs, resulting in Fairfax journalists going on a 7 day strike country wide – this strike included the federal budget, a crucial week for politics. The message of the strike was to ‘invest in journalism’. Journalists and those working at media corporations were worried about the future of independent and quality journalism. 

smh.com.au

Marcus Strom, science editor of SMH, said “we’re just devastated that the company once again reaches for cuts because they haven’t worked out they need to invest in journalism. They’re not sharing the pain at the top of the company”. 

Fairfax political reporter, Amy Remeikis commented on the matter, expressing that the strike shows the readers this is what happens when we’re not here. 

Fairfax media responded, expressing disappointment in some “masthead journalists” for taking part in the strike, but said their publishing schedule will go ahead “as usual”.  

The Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) was created to spread public concern about the position public interest journalism is in, and to help sustain it. PIJI’s aim is to ensure an “enduring capacity” to fund public interest journalism. They do this through two main objectives:
  • To mobilise an informed, broad-based and supported constituency for public interest journalism;
  • To research, support and promote existing and new mechanisms that will ensure a sound future for public interest journalism.


The job cuts and AFP raids left journalists and colleagues in distress, worrying not only about their jobs, but also the future of journalism. Where will we be if we don’t report on public interest matters? Will every news segment be about politics, celebrities or sport?  As a news consumer I am interested in segments such as Annika Smethurst’s intelligence agency story and ABC’s Afghan Files story. Without public interest journalism, we are living with our eyes closed. After all, as PIJI states, an informed public is crucial to our democracy.

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