吀栀reats Survey respondents were asked Some respondents suggested that to identify factors that they think journalism has become more partisan to public threatened public interest journalism or divisive in recent years, highlighting interest in 2023. The top factors identi昀椀ed this as a threat to were an increase in disinformation or public interest journalism, in journalism ‘fake news’ and lack of resources and particular, impacting trust between staff, identi昀椀ed as a threat by 70% the public/audiences and media. Some and 68% of respondents respectively. journalists were very distrustful of This was followed by declining trust in media organisations themselves, media organisations (62%), the closure citing alleged political agendas or of media organisations or newsrooms ideologies. (56%) and the concentration of media ownership (47%). Many also noted how the quality of journalism is impacted by staff Two percent of journalists responded shortages and tight budgets. Several that they did not feel there had pointed out the threat of Australian been any threats to public interest defamation laws or recent court journalism in 2023. outcomes (see more on page 64). Seventy percent of journalists said Compared to results from the 2022 an increase in disinformation or ‘fake survey, concern about the impact of news’ threatened public interest concentration of media ownership journalism in 2023. on public interest journalism has declined signi昀椀cantly from 57% to Many respondents said they believed 47% of survey respondents in 2023. social media was threatening public Concern related to all other factors interest journalism, in particular remained relatively steady. diverting funding from traditional media outlets and propagating misinformation among the public. The monetisation of journalism following the collapse of traditional advertising models due to social media was presented by respondents as an ongoing challenge to the industry. The media landscape has become far too sensationalist, tabloid and fear-mongering. News is driven by opinion and political agenda. Medianet 2024 Australian Media Landscape Report 39