A Deakin University-led report looking at collaboration between public service and local news media concludes direct government support and dedicated funding are more likely to have an impact.

Part of a three-year Australian Research Council study, the Australian Local News Resilience Project is led by Deakin with the support from Griffith university, the ABC and the global Public Media Alliance, whose members are examined.

Working Together draws on survey data, analysis and interviews with PSM members, documents a range of initiatives, and evaluates “strengths and weaknesses” from the perspectives of Public Service Media stakeholders.

PSM says some public media organisations are in a financial crisis, and notes that very few, “if any”, are funded through one stream alone.

“This mixed model, with a diverse portfolio of revenues, is arguably the most secure and sustainable, insulating organisations to a degree against political instability, or fluctuations in the market”.

PMA members include Australia’s ABC and SBS, New Zealand’s Pacific Media Network and Radio New Zealand, plus media in Europe and the UK (BBC), Asia, Canada and the US Public Broadcasting Service. It also has affiliates and partners worldwide.

The report is critical of publishers that have increased centralised content in order to address rising costs, leading to more of what it calls ‘zombie’ or ‘ghost’ newspapers – in which news brands “are local in name only” – and the ‘pink slime’ of “ideologically driven publications of dubious quality masquerading as local news”.

However, it notes “positive signs of growth” in the sector, such as hyperlocal start-ups, volunteer-driven news outlets and support for public interest journalism from governments, philanthropic and community foundation sectors. However, authors suggest that both ‘local’ and ‘collaboration’ are often misused terms.