Examining the Viability of Nonprofit Investigative Journalism in Australia

Download or read book Examining the Viability of Nonprofit Investigative Journalism in Australia written by Jacqueline M. Williams and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The nonprofit investigative journalism model has arguably been most prevalent and successful in the United States. But how applicable is the US model in other countries? There is currently no model or framework with which to assess the long-term viability of nonprofit investigative journalism in Australia. This thesis has developed such a model so that future attempts at establishing such an organization in Australia might prove more fruitful and or that the appropriate changes are made at a government policy level to ensure future sustainability. To establish whether nonprofit investigative centers are viable in Australia this thesis has, through research and interviews, identified five contributing factors to the long-term sustainability of nonprofit investigative journalism. It has examined these factors as they relate to Australia and the US, and compared and contrasted the results. By analyzing three successful nonprofit investigative centers in the US, and the only similar but much smaller model in Australia, which recently closed, this thesis has found that the future of philanthropically funded journalism in Australia is grim, largely as a result of a lack of economic incentives, which further reduces the already underdeveloped philanthropic culture. In contemplating the implications of this body of work there are some obvious changes that could be implemented within Australia to improve the current landscape for nonprofit investigative journalism. Short of these changes there are other potential models that may overcome the limitations the Australian landscape faces. While this thesis is primarily focused on Australia, the findings, especially as they pertain to the five contributing factors to sustainability, are likely applicable to other geographies.