Walkley Foundation launches first public campaign in 60-year history to ask: ‘What price would you pay’ for quality journalism?
The Walkley Foundation has launched a public campaign for the first time in its 60-year history to ask Australians ‘What price would you pay?’ for quality journalism.
Journalists such as Kate McClymont, Adele Ferguson, Hugh Riminton, Louise Milligan and Hedley Thomas are the faces of the ad, which was created in partnership with the now-defunct Naked Communications on a pro bono basis. More than 15 media outlets also donated media placement for the campaign, which will roll out in the coming weeks across TV, print, online and out of home.
“Putting yourself on the line as a journalist can come at a cost,” Walkley Foundation chief executive Louisa Graham said.
“We’re shining a light on the price that journalists pay to deliver the truth, and asking the public to think about what price they would pay for that truth. Quality journalism isn’t free – it costs a lot to produce – and we want Australians to understand that we all should subscribe, pay or donate to support the fourth estate.”
Multiple journalists speak of what that cost has been for them personally in the two-minute ad.
“I’ve spent 25 years trying to be a faithful servant to truth, and to the public’s right to know. And over the course of my career, that’s come at some cost,” explains Walkley Award-winning journalist and documentary maker Michael Ware.
“I was kidnapped by the Islamic State, and then I was taken behind a building to what was to be the site of my beheading. They’d hastily put a banner on a wall, and they were going to film my execution with the camera that they ripped from my hands.”
Riminton speaks of children’s bodies being thrown in open graves or dying at his feet, Louise Milligan of how she risked going to prison to protect her confidential sources, and Hedley Thomas of how close he and his wife came to death.
“The bullet that went through our bedroom window missed my wife’s head, my head, by just centimetres,” says Hedley Thomas, the journalist behind the Walkley Award-winning podcast The Teacher’s Pet.
The campaign asks Australians to subscribe, support or become a member of Australian media organisations, and encourages donations to the Walkley Public Fund.
The Public Fund supports the Foundation’s scholarship program, funds grants for journalism projects in the public interest, and funds programs to support the next generation of journalists through mentorship programs and training.
I don’t think most people would baulk at paying something towards the cost of good journalism, but the subscription model is weirdly outdated. For example, it used to be that even though you just wanted a $3 cup of coffee you had to spend, say, a minimum of $15 in order to pay with your credit/debit card, whereas now you can use it to pay just the $3. The media should be just as flexible – offer readers/viewers the options to pay per article view, or pay for a week/month/year’s access with rates/add-ons that reward a longer commitment, or even nominate the amount they’re comfortable paying for a basic news subscription. Given the growing number of people accessing their news online and therefore able to make an instant payment, this flexible model would seem a bit of a no-brainer.
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Correct me if I’m wrong but they’re all white and able-bodied journalists. It certainly says something about the lack of diversity in Australian media. I’ll happily pay when the news better reflects our nation.
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Good journalism doesn’t care what gender, colour or ability level you are. It’s having the guts to put yourself on the line to bring the truth to light. If that’s not worth paying for, the future looks bleak.
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Include good photo journalists.. good reporting should include a balance of good news stories as well as the hard and invitigative stories.
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