By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
An ABC news bureau in Geelong will add to the “diversity” of local news heard on the national stage, according to a federal minister.
Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy Senator Kate Lundy said Geelong news content and services would be boosted with two local ABC journalists beginning work in the bureau this week.
The local bureau was established with $227,000 in Federal Government funding.
“It’s about time Geelong had a news service that told local stories on a platform that allows access for the rest of Australia,” Ms Lundy said.
“Geelong has an increasing regional presence and deserves to have its community reported upon across all platforms.
“Previously reports happened only when there was something dramatic and it was not always good news.
“This will provide a richer source of news content and a fairer reflection of local activities.”
Corio MP Richard Marles said Geelong previously had to rely on Melbourne, Ballarat and Warrnambool for an ABC radio news service.
“This funding will allow the ABC to better serve the growing community of Geelong by producing local content from facilities based in Geelong,” he said.
Corangamite MP Darren Cheeseman said Geelong residents valued the ABC and had been “looking forward to this announcement for a long time”.
“The two new local journalists will be a welcome addition to the strong local media landscape we have in the Geelong area,” he said.
The general manager of Geelong’s K-Rock and Bay-FM radio stations, Dean Anglin, brushed off concern about the new competition.
The ABC bureau would serve a different demographic, Mr Anglin said.
“It’s not a massive drama. It’s good there’s another radio station focusing on local news – it might create a bit more focus on the city.”
While in Geelong, Senator Lundy also announced a free training service in digital business methods in preparation for the national broadband network rollout in the city.
She said the training service would help small businesses develop an online presence, e-commerce and social media marketing.
Darebin Enterprise Centre received $640,000 to deliver the training to help local small businesses compete better and make the most of the NBN.
