CANEGROWERS is seeking a commitment that resources to cover regional and rural news and issues will be maintained by News Corp when it ceases printing many of its newspapers.

“Across the sugarcane regions of Queensland, cane growers are deeply saddened by today’s announcement that many of their local newspapers are moving to a digital-only platform,” CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said.

“For many communities, the local newspaper has been informing and entertaining them for generations, and it’s loss as a physical product is genuinely being mourned.

“There is concern too for the projected hundreds of dedicated regional journalists and other staff who may lose their jobs.”

As a peak industry organisation representing thousands of farm businesses in Queensland, CANEGROWERS is particularly concerned about the reduction of media diversity across the rural landscape.

“The benefits that having multiple avenues to have stories and issues raised, explored and analysed can’t be underestimated,” Mr Galligan said.

“We are concerned at the loss of dedicated rural news coverage in the Rural Weekly supplement which goes into many of the papers in the firing line today.

“It is important that with this decision, News Corp commits to keeping a focus on local news – that there are journalists in regional areas who will shine a spotlight on their community’s events, tragedies and celebrations, hold its leaders to account and understand what makes its issues unique.”