Cartoon from yourdemocracy.net.au

An inquiry into the Australian media is being set up and views differ on how to support print media diversity.

Stephen Mayne, journalist and founder of online newspaper, Crikey, said:

“The ACCC should have the ability to require News Ltd to sell down mastheads of its own choosing to reduce its Australian newspaper market share to below 50%.”

A move in this direction would be controversial. News Limited papers in Australia are not under investigation and are not accused of wrong-doing on par with the phone hacking scandal that led to the closure of British tabloid, News of the World.

Eric Beecher, Chair of Private Media Pty Ltd, who publish Crikey, said:

“There is no democratic or economic rationale to support suggestions that News Limited should be forced to divest any of its Australian newspapers.”

Forcing News Limited to sell any of its newspapers would be completely impractical and fraught with legal problems according to Mr Beecher.

Mr Beecher suggests News Limited’s 70 percent of the Australian press is best counterbalanced by Government support for new print media – particularly the online channel.

Having a significant stake in Australia’s online news does cloud Mr Beecher’s comments with a conflict of interest – a conflict he is open about and says “people can take that the way they want to.”

Mr Beecher wants action and says Senator Bob Brown and the Greens should stop “posturing about the theory of media diversity and do something about its practice.”

NewsStand – a new online organising vehicle set up in response to the current conversation about the media – say News Corporation (the US parent company of News Limited) is “awash with allegations” in countries such as Italy, the UK and the US.

Wendy Bacon – a NewsStand Board Member – notes the influence News Corporation and News Limited have in Australia across a range of mediums including print, pay TV, and radio.

Ms Bacon does not rule out News Ltd having to sell newspapers and said:

“It is a very heavy thing to move toward any sort of disinvestment. First of all you have to put on the table the possibility of supporting other media”.

I spoke with Eric Beecher and Senator Bob Brown.

Interview with Eric Beecher

Interview with Senator Bob Brown