This report shows how news consumption and trust in Australia are shaped by crises and politics. Interest has rebounded, especially among young people and women. Despite high avoidance, audiences rely on trusted sources over social media and artificial intelligence. Younger users favour relatable formats and creators, challenging news organisations to adapt to evolving habits and...

This submission responds to the News Bargaining Incentive Revenue Distribution—Statutory Payment Scheme. Informed by regional interviews, surveys, and stakeholder engagement, it offers seven recommendations: strengthen eligibility, support workforce sustainability, improve funding allocation, broaden journalism roles, establish evaluation mechanisms, reduce regulatory burden for small publishers, and ensure transparency and accountability.

This report is based on a representative survey of Australians aged 10 to 17 conducted in February 2026. It examines the impact of Australia's teen social media ban on young people’s news engagement, just two months after the legislation took effect. As the ban affects more young people, it finds that their news engagement will...

This submission addresses draft Australian legislation establishing a News Bargaining Incentive, prepared by University of Canberra and RMIT researchers. Drawing on extensive regional interviews, national surveys, and stakeholder engagement, it proposes five recommendations: include AI platforms, strengthen incentives for smaller publishers, raise agreement thresholds, require multi-year deals, and enhance transparency to support public interest journalism.

This report is about the challenges facing public interest journalism in Australia and policy responses to its structural decline. It synthesises a roundtable of industry, government and academic participants, identifying priorities including platform regulation, sustainable funding and professional standards. Participants agreed addressing market failure requires evidence‑based policy focused on transparency, long‑term viability and media literacy.