We developed the Media Diversity Measurement Framework to monitor the diversity of Australia’s news media landscape in relation to 3 pillars:
- Source diversity
Who controls, produces and distributes news in Australia, and how diverse these groups are.
- Content diversity
The range of topics, voices, viewpoints and demographics reflected in news content.
- Exposure diversity
The range of news sources audiences access, and which sources they trust and rely on the most.
The Framework consists of 6 indicators across these pillars, which together form the basis for measuring media diversity.
The ACMA reports against the Framework through the biennial News media in Australia series.
Development of the Framework
The Framework originated from research we first undertook and published in 2020 and was informed by a public consultation process undertaken in early 2023.
In August 2023, we provided advice to the government on the outcomes of its public consultation and made a series of recommendations on how it could implement the Framework, which the government accepted on 12 December 2023.
The Framework is part of the government’s News Media Assistance Program.
In 2024, we refined the scope of the Framework and key parameters following stakeholder consultation. In March 2025 we published the first report against the Framework, the News media in Australia: 2025 report. Small refinements to the Framework have since been made.
Resources
Read the first report under the Framework: News media in Australia: 2025 report
Read our 2023 paper: A new framework for measuring media diversity in Australia
Read the ACMA’s consultation paper and public submissions
Read the ACMA’s original 2020 paper News in Australia: diversity and localism – News measurement framework