Regional media outlets have been hailed as 'vital' by Whitlam MP Stephen Jones and Hume MP Angus Taylor.
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The two men, who stand on either side of politics, both agreed that regional journalism played an important role in communities.
In comments made to the Illawarra Mercury Labor's shadow assistant treasurer and Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones said it was vital regional media companies survived.
"Journalism is a public good," he said.
"We've got to find a way to ensure that we can pay for it, businesses can make money out of it so they can employ people and they can't all be based in Ultimo or Surry Hills.
"We've got to have them based in the regions."
Mr Jones said regional media was more than telling stories to people living in regional parts of Australia about what was going on in their own backyard.
"That's critical, but it's also important that we tell people who don't live in your region what's going on in your area so we can tell the capital cities what's going on in the regions," he said.
"That's absolutely critical."
"Otherwise the only view of the world they get is the one they live in."
Member for Hume, the Hon. Angus Taylor said local community news services provide a vital service to regional communities.
"I've always been incredibly supportive of local journalism and the provision of news services in my electorate and will continue to be into the future," he said.
"It not only provides local jobs but an outlet for local news, advertising for businesses and communication for local social and community groups.
"It is vitally important in regional areas."
Regional media outlets Australian Community Media (who own this publication), WIN Network, Prime Media Group and Southern Cross Austereo have teamed up in a campaign called "Save our Voices" led by Ray Martin.
The campaign aims to lobby the government to relax laws which govern how many media outlets a business can own in a specific market.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
