The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has expanded its regional and rural coverage with the appointment of 55 regionally-based journalists.
ABC Managing Director, David Anderson said the recruitment would boost the number of ABC employees working outside capital cities to more than 600.
“The new regional roles were made possible through commercial deals struck with Facebook and Google in November last year,” Mr Anderson said, “following the passage of the Federal Government’s News Media Bargaining Code earlier in 2021.”
“The ABC committed that any net revenues resulting from an agreement with Google and Facebook would be invested in supporting regional and rural public interest journalism,” he said.
He said the Broadcaster had moved quickly over the summer to advertise and recruit in every State and the Northern Territory.
Mr Anderson said there had been strong interest in the roles, with more than 580 applications received.
“Most of those who have applied are already living and working in regional Australia, although several applicants were looking to relocate from the city,” he said.
“The successful applicants came from a range of experiences and backgrounds.”
He said the 55 newly-recruited journalists would have a big impact on the ABC’s ability to cover regional issues, from the larger regional centres to more remote communities.
“It will mean more stories, better coverage and specialist reporting on the issues that matter to people living in the regions and important insights into regional and rural Australia for people residing in Australia’s capital cities,” Mr Anderson said.
