A funding pledge of $15 million in the federal government’s budget is a welcome endorsement of the vital role the Australian Associated Press, the nation’s only independent newswire, plays as a key piece of democratic infrastructure. AAP provides content to hundreds of newspapers, websites, TV and radio stations, many of which are in regional areas and could not each send a journalist and photographer to cover what happens in the nation’s capital cities, in courtrooms or on sporting fields. AAP operates 24 hours a day, seven days week, delivering articles to a domestic and global audience of millions.
“Most people only know AAP as a small acronym beneath a photo or beside an article, but without the newswire there would be a significant void in Australia’s news offering,” AAP CEO Emma Cowdroy said.
Find the full press release here.