Thursday's announcement of the News Bargaining Incentive by the federal government is an important moment for Australian media. It is a long-overdue acknowledgment of the challenges that newsrooms face in delivering vital, public-interest journalism. For too long, the decline in advertising revenue, rising operational costs, and the dominance of global digital platforms have placed extraordinary strain on newsrooms, particularly those working to serve under-represented communities.

The National Indigenous Times is one such newsroom. With a small but dedicated team of just nine journalists, we publish hundreds of stories each week on our website and social media platforms. We report from remote communities, bustling cities, and everywhere in between, celebrating Indigenous achievement, amplifying critical issues, and holding those in power to account. We tell stories that are too often ignored by mainstream media, and we do it free of charge for our readers.

This is no easy task. The costs of printing, wages, insurance, and infrastructure—all continue to rise. Meanwhile, advertising dollars that once supported newsrooms like ours are now flowing offshore to platforms like Facebook and Linkedin. The result? Smaller, independent publications—those best positioned to tell unique, local, and community-focused stories—are increasingly under threat. Their newspapers and newsrooms are shrinking.

Our contribution to the Australian media landscape is essential. At the National Indigenous Times, our mission is to ensure that Indigenous voices are front and centre. We celebrate Indigenous businesses, advocates, artists, athletes, and leaders. We expose inequality and injustices and we highlight the stories that build connection, understanding, and pride within the wider community. This is work that matters. It is work that strengthens our democracy.

The federal government's News Bargaining Incentive has the potential to fundamentally change the trajectory for newsrooms like ours. By dragging the social media companies to the negotiating table, they are supporting independent media and safeguarding the diversity of voices in Australian journalism. We look forward to taking up these conversations with the platforms soon.

Any direct government intervention must prioritise practical support for existing newsrooms—newsrooms that are already working hard to maintain their output and retain talented reporters.

Moreover, any financial support should prioritise publications that serve under-represented audiences and deliver journalism as a public good. Indigenous Australians, especially those in regional and rural areas deserve to have their stories told with care and respect. Businesses like ours, which provide this service free to readers, must sit at the heart of any funding framework.

At the National Indigenous Times, we don't just write news articles, we publish a national monthly newspaper, and a bi-monthly business magazine, the Indigenous Business Review. We publish podcasts and videos, providing in-depth reporting. Our work is robust and it is delivered without barriers to access.

It is vital that accurate, fact-checked and reputable public-interest reporting continues to thrive in the digital age.

To ministers Michelle Rowland and Stephen Jones, and to the federal government: thank you for recognising the value of Australian journalism. We look forward to contributing to the consultation process early in the new year, ensuring this program delivers the support that newsrooms so urgently need.

To Meta, Google, Apple and Tiktok and to our publication and distribution partners, we look forward to conversations in 2025 that will reshape the news landscape for the better.

A thriving media sector benefits us all. A vibrant, independent press underpins our democracy, strengthens our communities, and ensures that no story goes untold.

The public deserves nothing less.

Reece Harley is Managing Director of the National Indigenous Times