Mandurah radio stations receive funding boost for local news

Member for Canning Andrew Hastie with 97.3 Coast FM and 91.7 The Wave journalists Marion Print and Monique Welhan. PIC: Supplied

The local news department at 97.3 Coast FM and 91.7 The Wave have been given a funding boost as part of the Federal Governments $50 million Public Internet News Gathering (PING) program.

The radio stations received a $122,000 grant and are one of 107 regional news outlets across the country set to benefit from the program.

The funding will help to cover the wages of journalists, enabling them to maintain a comprehensive local news service while dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Member for Canning Andrew Hastie said the funding will enable the radio stations to continue to serve the community with high quality news and information.

“Quality journalism is very important for local communities,” Mr Hastie said.

“Reliable public interest journalism keeps our communities informed and connected. We need healthy media businesses and competition among outlets to maintain the quality of the news we receive.

“This grant will help keep local reporters working in our region. Their strong record of serving Mandurah and the Peel region with fair-minded reporting of the news make Coast FM and The Wave deserving recipients of this grant."

 

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