Since the Australian Rural & Regional News platform was launched on 26 January 2021, we have had a practice of posting a selection of media releases from government bodies, local councils, and State and Federal Ministers and parliamentarians, and also clubs, societies and organisations, companies and businesses.
The source of these items has always been indicated so that our readers can know whose words they are.
We publish selected media releases in full and attributed so that our readers are aware of the information they contain, the issues they raise and discuss, and who says what about the issues.
However, we believe that the standard of some media releases now is such that an added notice is called for on each to remind our readers that the release is the statement of the author given and that media releases vary in reliability and may contain a combination of fact, aspirational statements, opinion, political commentary and even error.
Especially on contentious issues, we suggest our readers read widely and assess the statements made by different parties and form their own view.
Australian Rural & Regional News will continue to question the authors of some statements, and publish any response received.
So, media releases published on Australian Rural & Regional News from now will contain that added notice.
In addition, media releases published will also be open for comments. Defamatory, unlawful, offensive or inappropriate comments will not be allowed.
We hope this will encourage heathy discussion and debate on issues relevant to our readers and to rural and regional Australia.
Agree. I do note that some items fit your comments. When I started as a volunteer newspaper reader for Vision Australia Radio in Warragul 20 years ago, we were always taught to attribute every item to both its author and source, and we still do that today.
Separately, as a board member on our regional Landcare board, and on our community radio station, and act pro-bono as the technical advisor to Better Transmission Gippsland, I find your compilation unearths excellent items for my work with these 3 groups. Keep it up, its a unique compilation of great value to me.
That’s very encouraging Ian. Thank you for your support.