New survey gives insights into state of Australian media
Local & Independent News Association
A new survey of 85 Australian news publishers has found AI use has increased significantly in newsrooms, and local and independent news organisations were just as likely to be led by women as men.
The Local & Independent News Association (LINA) surveyed 85 member publishers that collectively operate 118 news services.
Almost a quarter (73%) of respondents reported using AI in their organisation, up from 51 per cent in 2025. Research has moved to the top use for AI users (86%) followed closely by administrative or operational tasks (82%) and limited editorial support. Image generation was used by 40 per cent of respondents who were using AI, while content generation was used by 16 per cent of AI users.
LINA compared responses among the 25 news organisations that had completed the survey every year since LINA’s founding (2023 to 2026).
Key findings for this smaller comparative study included a growth in median annual revenue, from $169,000 in 2025 to $189,000 2026, and a growth in full-time equivalent staff, from 1.3 FTE in 2025 to 2.0 FTE in 2026.
LINA’s Executive Director Claire Stuchbery said these findings presented a broadly encouraging picture of local and independent news publishing.
“The broader environment has remained challenging, with the impacts of rising costs, a soft advertising market, and rapid developments in AI,” Stuchbery said.
“But publishers are resilient. Reassuringly, it seems many are saving time by using AI for operational and administrative tasks, but use for editorial purposes remains minimal.”
“AI cannot, and should not, replace the work of journalists spending time in communities, speaking with and interviewing people, analysing information with important cultural and locally relevant context, and fact-checking and verification.”
Government support through the Journalism Assistance Fund provided welcome help for publishers during this period, which saw grants rise as a revenue source but advertising remained in the top spot.
In stark contrast to other studies of the broader news industry, almost half (49.4%) of respondents reported that their news organisation was led by a woman.
Most surveyed news organisations were founded within the past decade, many in response to the closing or contracting of legacy newspapers causing news deserts in local areas.
Respondents shared stories about their most impactful reporting from the year, including sending minute-by-minute notifications of emergency updates during bushfires, breaking news of environmental harm, sharing otherwise untold local stories, and exposing wrongdoing prompting council, government or Ministerial response.
Just over half (54%) of respondents rated the future of their news organisation as secure, with a third (33%) saying their future was uncertain or at risk.
Stuchbery said the sector needed ongoing support to continue providing their important public service.
“It’s absolutely critical that journalists and publishers are compensated for use of their work, including by AI models,” she said.
“I hope funders and philanthropists can also come to the table and recognise news services as essential community infrastructure that underpins community development, local leadership and regional identity for all Australian communities.
“We need news to navigate our day to day lives, stay connected to one another, and for a functioning democracy.”
LINA is seeking aligned partners to support Australia’s independent and local digital news publishers to provide public interest journalism for Australian communities.
Download the survey findings report.
About us:
About the Local & Independent News Association (LINA):
LINA is Australia’s leading not-for-profit serving digital news producers of public interest journalism. LINA’s mission is to increase the diversity and relevance of news services in communities across Australia. It does so by providing over 180 independent digital news services with capacity-building support, representation, economies of scale, training, access to critical third–party services, and more.
“I continue to say that LINA saved my business. It opened me up to a whole lot more opportunity I didn't really know existed.” - South West Local News
“I genuinely don't believe I would still be operating without LINA's support. As we approach seven years in business this August, LINA has provided invaluable guidance, training, advocacy and practical support that has helped us navigate an increasingly challenging media landscape.” - Fleurieu App
For more information about LINA and its initiatives, visit lina.org.au.
Contact details:
Nell O’Shea Carré
0468 774 682
