Judith Neilson’s $100 million journalism initiative will back projects at major media companies because they were able to reach the biggest audience possible as quickly as possible, says the fund’s director.
Mark Ryan told the Fourth Estate radio show on 2SER Radio the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas (JNIJ) was not “in a sense a charitable institution in that we are set up to look after only what people perceive to be the most deserving”.
Established in November last year, JNIJ recently handed out about $2 million to several major media players, including the ABC, The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, The Guardian, Schwartz Media, and The Australian.
It also supported Ngaarda Media, a community radio station in Roebourne, WA, and a local news website in Warrnambool, The Terrier.
Asked by Fourth Estate host Peter Fray why Rupert Murdoch needed Judith Neilson’s money, Ryan replied: “Well, Rupert Murdoch doesn't. But his readers, the readers of The Australian and other News Corp publications and The Guardian … their readers deserve quality journalism.
“Our mission broadly is to support quality journalism. So I think people shouldn't be so hung up about whether or not we're supporting News Corp or The Guardian and instead focus on the output and hopefully the output will speak for itself.”
Ryan, a former employee of ex-Prime Minister Paul Keating and Westfield boss Frank Lowy, said the institute would focus on grants, events and education. It supported recent suggestions made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to make it easier for media companies to make donations to media companies a tax deduction.
Asked to predict the institute’s role in a year’s time, Ryan said: “The big challenge that we have over the next couple of years is to really think deeply about what can make a meaningful impact.
“What are the perhaps two, possibly three big ideas that we can get involved in. Those will probably involve us collaborating with others both here and around the world. But nonetheless it's a great challenge to have but it's also a very difficult one in this volatile market.”
Listen to the full interview HERE.
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