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If it's on in your community you’d like to know about it, right?
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has launched an inquiry into the amount of local content on regional television and is calling for public comment.
Directed by former communications minister Stephen Conroy, the investigation comes after concerns about a reduction in local content, including news bulletins being axed.
Griffith lost its dedicated WIN News bulletin in August, 2006, and now features as part of the Wagga service, which is read from Wollongong.
It’s now the city’s sole television news and mayor John Dal Broi said it was a big blow for not only the Griffith community but other towns in the western Riverina.
“I’m of the belief that Wagga can substantiate its own news service and Griffith can, too,” Councillor Dal Broi said.
He said currently many important events weren’t covered and council would be putting in a submission as part of the investigation.
“The community would be looking for more local news than they are getting now,” he said.
The Regional television local content investigation 2013 consultation paper will look into the operation and effectiveness of a section of
the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, which sets out the minimum amount of material of local significance that commercial television stations in regional aggregated markets across the country can broadcast.
The inquiry will consider the importance of that material to people in regional areas.
Senior journalism lecturer from Charles Sturt University’s Bathurst campus, Dr Margaret Van Heekeren, said the quality and quantity of local news content was less than it was pre-aggregation.
“We need to look more holistically at what local content is rather than just adding up how many times, over how many hours Wagga is mentioned, which is what happens now with ACMA,” Dr Van Heekeren said.
Submissions close on August 20 and for more information visit www.acma.gov.au.
