COVID-19 has seen “news deserts” spread further across Australia, as 100 news outlets were shut over the course of the pandemic—leaving local councils unmonitored and free from one layer of scrutiny. A survey from the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), also revealed that regional media outlets were under-resourced and offered little in terms of career progression for journalists. According to the survey of 199 regionally based journalists based around the country, 82 percent of regional journalists earn under AU$75,000 per annum (US$53,800), while 44 percent make under AU$50,000 (US$35,870). Around 64 percent said the resources at their outlet were poor or very poor, while 63 percent said opportunities for career advancement were poor. A further 54 percent of journalists said they could not see themselves working in the field in the next five years. “The slow decline of regional journalism in Australia must be arrested before it is too late,” Adam …