Billion set aside for media school

A Zimbabwe-born billionaire philanthropist has vowed to spend at least AU$100m (R1bn) of her fortune to create a journalism institute committed to “the pursuit of truth”.

Judith Neilson said the Sydney-based institute would “celebrate and encourage quality journalism in Australia and the world” at a time of “massive change” and challenges for the news media.

“Journalism doesn’t just need critics, it needs champions – people and institutions with the resources to help educate, encourage and connect journalists and their audience in pursuit of excellence,” she said.

Neilson, a prominent patron of the arts in Sydney, said the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas would run educational programmes and events and provide grants for the development of independent, non-partisan reporting.

She said one of the first priorities of the organisation once it is formally launched in 2019 would be to support more “informed, intelligent” reporting.

“Through targeted funding and education we can strengthen Australian journalism and help restore faith in its central role in a healthy democracy,” she said.

“As an avid consumer of news, I recognise the need to support evidence-based journalism and the pursuit of truth in an increasingly complicated and confusing world.”

News organisations in Australia have struggled in recent years with falling revenue and shrinking staff, as giants like Google and Facebook dominate the digital economy.

One of the first priorities ... would be to support more ‘informed, intelligent’ reporting