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Purpose
This data quality statement summarises all known data quality issues relating to the data assets used to report against the Media Diversity Measurement Framework.
Our data quality statements:
- assist in the interpretation of data
- provide a method for recording strengths and limitations of data consistently across time
- help us communicate the quality of data product to our users
- determine applicability of data when sharing and promoting reuse
- allow for comparability of quality across data products.
Scope
Data from a range of ACMA and external data assets has been incorporated into a single data ‘product’ – the ‘News media integrated data model’. This data model supports reporting against the framework via the News media in Australia reporting series and interactive reports.
The primary focus of this data quality statement and data quality description is on ACMA data assets (excluding the ACMA annual consumer survey, which has its own data quality statement).
We have not undertaken a comprehensive data quality assessment for external data assets because we do not have access to all necessary information (for example, detailed data collection methodology or data governance arrangements), and we are not responsible for these processes.
However, in acknowledgment that these datasets are important components of the news media integrated data model, for completeness, we have included:
- a general description of each data asset
- links to each data asset source for additional information
- description of general suitability.
Given the multifaceted nature of this data product, this statement also describes how data assets have been integrated into a single model and validated against source data.
Key terms and definitions that underpin this data are set out in the News media in Australia glossary.
Data quality statement
| Data product name |
News media integrated data model This data product comprises the following 10 data assets: ACMA
External
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| Date | April 2026 |
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Purpose
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This data product supports reporting against the framework via the News media in Australia reporting series and interactive reports. |
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Description of data product
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The news media integrated data model comprises both ACMA and external data assets, as listed below. ACMA
The ACMA maintains the following media ownership and control registers under Part 5 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA):
The registers are available on the ACMA website.
The ACMA is required to maintain a Register of Radiocommunications Licences in accordance with the requirements specified in the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Radiocommunications Act).
We maintain a register with details of all entities registered under the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code. This register is available on the ACMA website.
The Framework Outlet Register is a dataset of professional news outlets used to report against Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets) of the framework.
The annual consumer survey is our primary source of consumer survey data on the use of, and attitudes and behaviour towards communication services among Australian adults. External
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative’s now discontinued Australian News Data Project (2020–24) was a group of related research projects, designed to assess media diversity and plurality. Data is made available under a Creative Commons licence. More information about this data is available on the PIJI website at Australian News Data Project.
Conducted every 5 years, the Australian Census collects data on every person and household in Australia. Occupation data collected is coded by occupation and industry sector.
Digital News Report data is collected annually by the University of Canberra’s News and Media Research Centre, as part of an international survey run by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. The Australian data is collected using an online questionnaire, with the sample drawn from an online panel of adult Australians. Data from 2016 to 2025 inclusive, made available under a Creative Commons licence, has been incorporated into the news media integrated data model.
The Public Interest Publishers Index (PIPI) is a database of print and digital news outlets in Australia. It was adapted from Creative Commons data collected for the Australian News Data Project.
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| Legislation and authority |
Data in the media ownership and control registers has been collected in accordance with Part 5 of the BSA (sections 59, 61AU and 75).
The ACMA is required to maintain a register known as the Register of Radiocommunications Licences under Part 3.5 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992. The Radiocommunications Act requires the ACMA to keep certain information on the register about certain radiocommunications licences, such as the licensee’s name, postal address and the issue and expiry of the licence.
Data in the register is collected from applicant corporations in accordance with requirements of the Code (as set out at section 52F of the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Act 2021).
In accordance with our statutory functions under the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005, we monitor changes in the Australian media market to both inform itself and advise government on industry trends that may be relevant for policy and decision-making. The ACMA maintains the Framework Outlet Register in accordance with these functions. External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data product) for further details on external data sources. |
| Scope and coverage |
ACMA
The data asset is comprised of public registers which the ACMA is required to maintain under Part 5 of the BSA.
Consistent with the requirements specified in the Radiocommunications Act, the Register of Radiocommunications Licences (RRL), contains information on applicable licence types, including particulars of individual licences, such as contact details, expiry and issue date. The RRL is also available in a downloadable format which allows users to search or use the data for their own purposes. The ACMA also maintains an archive of the registered data which allows users to search for historical licence information.
The ACMA is responsible for assessing the eligibility of news businesses that apply to participate in the Code. News businesses that are eligible are listed in a register, which includes the registered news sources and nominated point of contact for each registered news business.
The Framework Outler Register comprises data about professional news outlets in Australia from the following data assets:
These data assets have also been supplemented with targeted desktop research to address data quality issues identified, such as data gaps (where possible). External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data product) for further details on external data sources. |
| Reference period |
ACMA
The RCMG and MCD provide current information about control of commercial television and radio broadcasting licences and associated newspapers, and registered media groups.
The RRL contains live information about radiocommunications licensing. Users may also access a data download (updated daily) or archived data (updated daily), which contains the historical records previously stored on the RRL, from 1996 onwards.
The register lists all news businesses assessed as eligible to participate in the Code since 2021. Businesses have a responsibility to notify the ACMA of any change to their circumstances or contact details which may affect their eligibility. Upon receipt of this information, the ACMA updates the register. Where an entity is removed or revoked, they remain on the register, but their changed status is noted and contact details removed if they are no longer eligible.
The Framework Outlet Register contains data about active news outlets and non-comprehensive data about inactive news outlets that closed between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2026. External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data product) for further details on external data sources. |
| Frequency and timing |
ACMA
The media ownership and control registers are updated on an ad-hoc basis when the ACMA receives a notification.
The RRL is linked to the ACMA’s licensing software, meaning the register is updated on an ongoing basis, as each licensing decision is made. For example, when the ACMA approves a new apparatus licence application, it is typically registered on the RRL within 20 minutes.
The NMBC register is updated on an ongoing basis, following decisions about the eligibility of a news business, the addition or removal of news sources, or notifications regarding updated contact details for registered news businesses.
The Framework Outlet Register is updated on an ad-hoc basis when changes to the Australian news market (e.g. openings, closures) are identified. The interactive reports underpinned by the Framework Outlet Register (Indicator 1: news outlet controllers and Indicator 3: news outlets) are refreshed annually with updated data. External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data product) for further details on external data sources. |
| Formats available |
ACMA
The data in the registers is available in PDF format.
The register is available on the ACMA website as a searchable web tool. The register is also available as a data download in a CSV (Excel format) and via a web application programming interface (API) from the ACMA website.
The register is available on the ACMA website.
The Framework Outlet Register can be accessed via the Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets) interactive reports. Excerpts from the Framework Outlet Register can be exported from these reports in a CSV or XLSX format. External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data product) for further details on external data sources. |
| Data incorporation and validation |
This section describes how data assets used to report against each indicator of the Framework have been incorporated into the news media integrated data model. It also describes how data assets have been validated. Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets) The Framework Outlet Register is used to combine data from several data assets into a single cohesive professional news outlet dataset. Data from the Register of Radiocommunications Licences and certain data from the media ownership and control registers is automatically transformed and populated into the Framework Outlet Register. Data from other data assets is manually transformed and populated into the Framework Outlet Register according to established processes and business rules. News outlet controller data from the media ownership and control registers is not stored in the Framework Outlet Register. However, this data is joined to relevant news outlets in the Framework Outlet Register. Quality assurance processes are applied to the Framework Outlet Register on a regular ongoing basis to identify and (where possible) address data gaps or inconsistencies, select the highest quality data for each news outlet (where data is available from more than one data source) and join duplicative data. Indicator 2 (news workforce) The ABS Census of Population and Housing data was provided to the ACMA by the ABS in an XLSX (Excel format) file for the purpose of reporting against indicator 2 of the Framework. The ACMA made minor variable aggregations, such as grouping certain categories, to improve presentation and alignment of certain terminology with the Framework. These changes did not alter the underlying numeric data and clear definitions have been provided for all data categories. Indicator 4 (news content) The PIJI Australian News Sampling Project data was manually extracted from written case studies published in PDF format. The data was then structured to enable analysis and reporting against Indicator 4 of the Framework. Indicator 5 (news consumption) and Indicator 6 (trust and impact) The ACMA annual consumer survey and Digital News Report are used to report against Indicators 5 and 6 of the Framework. Both datasets were provided as spreadsheets and separately ingested into the news media integrated data model without any changes to the underlying data. Data validation All data assets were validated against source data to ensure they are accurately reported on in the News media in Australia reporting series. |
Data quality description
Please note: As outlined above, the news media integrated data model comprises data from both ACMA and external sources. For external data sources a description of general suitability only is provided.
Accuracy
- Media ownership and control registers
Data provided in notifications is imported from an online notification form into an internal system and is checked for errors in accordance with agreed business rules. Where necessary, errors are queried with the commercial broadcasting licensee or associated newspaper publisher or their authorised agent who has submitted the notification.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
The RRL is linked to the ACMA’s licensing software and therefore the accuracy of the information represented is generally consistent with the accuracy of the individual application the ACMA received. Staff can correct any information on the Register at any time, if required.
- Register of eligible news businesses
The register is based on information supplied by applicants seeking registration under the NMBC.
Each application is assessed to ensure that the information they provide meets the registration criteria as required under the Code. The ACMA has processes in place to ensure these procedures are adhered to, and where errors are identified or further information is required, this is sought from the applicant. The information in the register is verified at the time of publication and reviewed on a regular basis to maintain accuracy and currency.
- Framework Outlet Register
The Framework Outlet Register is regularly validated to ensure source data is accurately represented and business rules have been correctly applied.
Completeness
- Media ownership and control registers
All licensees of commercial television or radio broadcasting licences and publishers of associated newspapers are required to notify the ACMA of becoming aware of a change in control of a licence or an associated newspaper.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
The information available on the RRL meets the requirements of the Radiocommunications Act and can support other licensing functions, such as frequency coordination and assessment of future licence applications.
- Register of eligible news businesses
Corporations that operate or control a news business can apply to be registered under the Code. To be registered under the Code, applicants must meet eligibility criteria. All applicants registered under the Code are listed on the register.
- Framework Outlet Register
A range of ACMA and external data assets are used as inputs to the Framework Outlet Register to ensure completeness of the data collected. However, some data gaps remain in the available data. Some data assets also apply a higher threshold to counting news outlets than the Framework, meaning that some news outlets that meet the Framework’s requirements may not be counted in the Framework Outlet Register.
Relevance
- Media ownership and control registers
The data informs the public about control of commercial television and radio broadcasting licences and associated newspapers and media diversity within commercial radio broadcasting licence areas.
The data also informs the ACMA about compliance with the media control and diversity rules under Part 5 of the BSA.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
The data informs the public about licensing details for certain radiocommunications licences. The data is often used by Accredited Persons, licensees, licence applicants and the ACMA. This allows applicants for new licences to consider existing licensees and make adjustments to minimise any potential interference between radiocommunications users.
- Register of eligible news businesses
The Code enables eligible news businesses to bargain individually or collectively with designated digital platforms over payment for the inclusion of news on the platforms and services. It is open to any news business corporation that meets the eligibility requirements to apply for registration under the Code.
- Framework Outlet Register
The Framework Outlet Register supports comprehensive and cohesive reporting on the Australian news market via Framework Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets).
Timeliness
- Media ownership and control registers
The public registers are updated on an ad-hoc basis when the ACMA receives a notification of changes in control.
Commercial broadcasting licensees and associated newspaper publishers are required to notify the ACMA of a change in control within 10 business days of becoming aware of the event.
If a change in control affects the RCMG, the ACMA must make the change to the RCMG (on an ‘unconfirmed’ basis) within 2 business days after receiving the notification, and confirm the change within 28 days.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
The RRL is linked to the ACMA’s licensing software, meaning the register is updated on an ongoing basis, as each licensing decision is made. This means the RRL is essentially ‘live’ and provides users with the most up to date information.
- Register of eligible news businesses
The register is updated on an ongoing basis whenever a relevant decision is made and is a current list of all registered news businesses.
- Framework Outlet Register
The Framework Outlet Register is updated in accordance with the update schedules of each data asset used. These schedules vary from ad-hoc (for example, the media ownership and control registers and register of eligible news businesses) to quarterly (for example, the Public Interest Publishers Index). The Framework Outlet Register data published in the Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets) interactive reports is current as at 31 March 2026.
Collection
- Media ownership and control registers
All commercial television and radio broadcasting licensees and publishers of associated newspapers must notify the ACMA within 10 business days of becoming aware of a change in control of the licence or associated newspaper. The online notification form ‘ACMA B2’ is available on the ACMA website.
The information collected in the form includes:
- the event date
- the date the licensee/publisher became aware of the change in control
- the names of persons who came into a position to exercise control, or ceased being in that position
- details of the change of control event.
The information in the public media ownership and control registers reflects information provided in change in control notifications received by the ACMA.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
Applicants applying for a radiocommunication licence must provide specific details for publication on the RRL with their licence information. All applicants must apply to the ACMA using the relevant approved form. This form outlines the required details and that the ACMA will disclose these on the RRL.
- Register of eligible news businesses
Information collected for the register is used to assess applications against the criteria set out in the Code. The information presented in the register includes the names of the news business corporation, news business, ABN, the type, name of and link to the registered news source, date of registration, and relevant contact details.
- Framework Outlet Register
ACMA data assets are typically integrated directly into the Framework Outlet Register, while external data assets are typically provided in spreadsheet format and manually ingested into the Framework Outlet Register. External data assets are either publicly available or voluntarily provided to the ACMA for the purpose of reporting against the Framework. Collection of data for each data asset is managed by the relevant ACMA or external data steward.
Consistency
- Media ownership and control registers
The ACMA has documented processes and procedures for the processing of the data in change in control notifications and updating the public media ownership and control registers.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
We have documented processes and procedures for processing applications and their associated data, which are applied consistently to all applicants to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the RRL.
- Register of eligible news businesses
The ACMA has documented processes and procedures for processing applications and their associated data, which are applied consistently to all applicants to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the register.
- Framework Outlet Register
Business rules are applied to data assets that were not created for the purpose of the Framework to adapt them into the Framework Outlet Register’s structure and format. The Framework Outlet Register is regularly reviewed to ensure these business rules are followed.
Fit-for-purpose
- Media ownership and control registers
The data in the media ownership and control registers is fit-for-purpose as it:
- allows the ACMA to assess compliance with the media control and diversity rules under the BSA
- allows the public to determine who controls commercial television, commercial radio and associated newspapers in Australia, and the level of media diversity in commercial radio licence areas
- can be downloaded in PDF format for use by interested stakeholders as appropriate.
This data asset is fit-for-purpose as a framework data source, as it provides reliable and comprehensive control data for news outlets subject to Australia’s media control rules.
- Register of Radiocommunications Licences
The data in the RRL is fit-for-purpose as it:
- allows the public to search and view live details of radiocommunications licences
- is available in multiple formats for ease of use by a variety of stakeholders, and
- contains an archive of historical radiocommunication licence data.
This data asset is fit-for-purpose as a framework data source, as it provides reliable and comprehensive data about broadcast news outlets for the Framework Outlet Register.
- Register of eligible news businesses
The data in the register is fit-for-purpose as it allows the ACMA to assess each applicant against the specified criteria and assess its suitability for registration. The data on the public register provides a comprehensive list of all currently registered entities.
This data asset is fit-for-purpose as a framework data source, as it provides reliable data about several hundred digital news outlets for the Framework Outlet Register.
- Framework Outlet Register
The Framework Outlet Register is fit-for-purpose because it:
- allows data from several different data assets to be integrated together
- allows gaps in the available data to be easily identified
- supports cohesive reporting against relevant framework indicators.
External data assets – General description of suitability
Australian News Data Project (Public Interest Journalism Initiative)
Australian non-profit organisation PIJI provided an important source of data on the state of the Australian news market via its now discontinued Australian News Data Project (2020–24), which included the Australian News Index (ANI) and the Australian News Sampling Project (ANSP).
Cross-platform news outlet data from PIJI’s ANI remains a key historical input for Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets). While content analysis data collected via various case studies conducted as part of the ANSP underpins Indicator 4 (news content) of the Framework.
Census of Population and Housing: 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The Census is a primary source for Australian employment and labour data. It is held every 5 years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in accordance with its statutory functions under the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 and the Census and Statistics Act 1905. The Census was last run in 2021.
Census data is a key input to Indicator 2 (news workforce) of the framework.
Digital News Report (Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism)
The University of Canberra’s News and Media Research Centre collects data annually about Australian news consumption trends, as part of a global study conducted by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University. The 2025 Digital News Report was the Reuters Institute’s 14th edition.
The Australian data is collected using an online questionnaire, with the sample drawn from an online panel of adult Australians. The report captures information about which platforms and news brands Australians most trust and rely upon, including use of social media platforms used for news.
The data is a key input to Indicator 6 (trust and impact) of the framework.
Public Interest Publishers Index (Gary Dickson)
The Public Interest Publishers Index (PIPI) is an important contemporary source of data for print and digital news outlets that builds on the approach established by PIJI’s Australian News Data Project.
This data is a key input for Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets).
Industry supplied data (ABC and SBS)
The ABC and SBS provided data to the ACMA for the purpose of reporting against the Framework. This is an important source of data for the ABC and SBS because of limitations of other data assets. For example, public broadcasters are not required to hold broadcast service licences, meaning that limited data is available for the ABC and SBS via the Register of Radiocommunications Licences.
Industry supplied data is used in Indicator 1 (news outlet controllers) and Indicator 3 (news outlets).