The Fassifern community has been bolstered thanks to the Coalition Government’s financial boost to local journalism. The Fassifern Guardian has been awarded a grant as part of the national Regional and Small Publisher’s Innovation Fund.
The innovation grant, totalling more than $170,000 will support the Fassifern Guardian’s long term viability, allowing it to digitise its print editions.
Member for Wright Scott Buchholz MP said the grant would mean news would remain local for the people of the Fassifern.
“This grant is all about supporting communities by having strong local papers,” he said.
“For 117 years the Fassifern Guardian has been the local paper of choice for the Fassifern community and this funding will help the paper adapt to take on the challenge of the digital age,
“For many communities like the Fassifern the local paper is one of the few places to get truly local news.”
The grant is one of 29 projects, Australia-wide, funded by the Innovation Fund. The total amount funded will be up to $3.6 million.
The Fund is a competitive grants program independently administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield said the fund would enable regional and small publishers to innovate across a wide range of business activities.
“This fund is all about bolstering rural and regional communities through supporting local publishers and journalism,” he said.
Details about successful recipients will be made available on GrantConnect once the grant deeds have been executed.
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