July 2020 WEB

10 MEREDITH and DISTRICT NEWS
the unCultured
Goats
think!
Steve Goat
We certainly are fortunate here in Meredith District.
Jim Elvey and his hardworking volunteers put the
Meredith News out every month, hail, rain, shine and
now, even during this pandemic. Not so in so many
other towns and cities around Australia. Local papers
struggle at the best of times, but with falling
advertising revenue and shut down pressures from
health authorities, doors are closing and printing
presses fall silent.
But there is also something else going on. The
Murdoch News Corporation, in the last few years, has
been increasing its stable of regional and rural
newspapers. Then centralising news rooms and failing
to adequately cover the local news. Now with the
impact of Covid19, these newspapers are going digital.
It is yet to be seen how successful this will be. Their
financial model seems to be broken.
As the ABC struggles with on going budget reductions,
it has had to reduce the ABC presence in these regional
areas. Even closing a few country offices. Such a pity,
when we consider how important Aunty is in times of
trouble and emergency. Their role in the recent bush
fires should not be diminished. As the pandemic has
widened, the public have turned to the ABC for the
latest, most accurate coverage again.
With all the discussion of a “ new normal” in the
months and years to come. One of the things we will
need is a national broadcaster that is funded
sufficiently to provide this essential service.
And of course, our own local Meredith News
Thank You
A very big Thank You to our
lovely readers who, reading that we
were losing money while
discounting rates for our
advertisers, made donations to ensure we stay
afloat. This is a heartening gesture and brings
home the point, as Barry Finn said, “we are all in
this together.“
Be assured, the Committee is keenly focused on
the long term sustainability of our Newsletter and
even more so, knowing it is so valued.