Social media giant Meta has given details of how regional publishers in Australia will use funds it is providing for newsroom sustainability and digital transformation.

Some 106 members of Country Press Australia are exclusive recipients of the Meta fund, serving a broad range of local and regional audiences.

The company’s news partnerships lead Andrew Hunter, says the CPA-designed fund builds upon ongoing work to support the growth of small rural and regional newsrooms in Australia.

“From Colac to Cairns, our partnership with CPA is driving innovation and sustainability for the small newsrooms dotted around the nation that are doing the essential work of keeping their local communities informed,” he said this week.

The three-year funding is being dispersed by Country Press Australia to its member newsrooms, and will support digital transformation.

CPA president Andrew Manuel said the initiative was “the culmination of many long months of collaborative consultation, in which the digital platform was always a willing and enthusiastic partner.

“This is a real win for public interest journalism in regional and rural Australia.”

He said “equally importantly”, Meta had recognised the importance to communities, and their need for local media as being fundamental to their well-being.

A Meta statement about the hand-out cited examples of how the funds will be used.

• Editor and general manager of the North Central Review/Whittlesea Review spoke of increasing readership and advertising revenue by improving their digital presence to do this,  “which will not only assist in the production of news content but increase website traffic, which will increase digital advertising.”

• Colac Herald director Andrea Graham said the funding would provide new camera equipment and help maintain editorial personnel;

• Warragul Regional Newspaper general manager Andrew Schreyer said funding would be used to strengthen circulation of the paid weekly newspaper through additional journalist resources, extra editorial content and to print extra copies for new housing estates and secondary schools.