Purpose
In line with the ACMA Data Quality Guide Framework, a data quality statement must be created for all critical, released, and shared data products.
The purpose of this data quality statement is to summarise all known data quality issues relating to data used in the ACMA’s first report against the Media Diversity Measurement Framework (the Framework), News media in Australia: 2025 report. The data quality statement:
- assists in the interpretation of data
- provides a method for recording strengths and limitations of data consistently across time
- helps us communicate the quality of the data
- determines applicability of data when sharing and promoting reuse
- allows for comparability of quality across data assets.
Scope
Data for the News media in Australia: 2025 report has been drawn from a range of data assets, including several that are managed by the ACMA as part of our regulatory functions, and collected through our annual consumer survey.
The report also draws on a range of external data sources, including the Public Interest Journalism Initiative’s (PIJI) Australian News Data Project, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s Digital News Report and Census data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Data from these sources have been incorporated into a single data ‘product’ – the ‘News media integrated data model’ – to support the development of interactive data reports and the News media in Australia: 2025 report.
The primary focus of this data quality statement and data quality description is on ACMA data assets (excluding the ACMA annual consumer survey, which is covered by a standalone data quality statement). A full data quality assessment for external data assets is not included.
The ACMA has not undertaken a comprehensive data quality assessment for external data assets because we do not have access to all necessary information (e.g., detailed data collection methodology, data governance arrangements), and nor is the ACMA 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.
Data quality statement
| Data product name |
News media integrated data model This data product comprises the following 8 data assets: ACMA
External
|
| Date | 28 March 2025 |
| Purpose | The News media integrated data model comprises ACMA and external datasets that inform reporting under the Media Diversity Measurement Framework, including on news production, variety of news content available, and how Australians access and consume news. |
| Description of data product |
The News media integrated data model comprises both ACMA and external data assets, as listed below. ACMA
External
|
| Legislation and authority |
|
| Scope and coverage |
ACMA
External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data assets) for further details on external data sources. |
| Reference period |
ACMA
External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data assets) for further details on external data sources. |
| Frequency and timing |
ACMA
External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data assets) for further details on external data sources. |
| Formats available |
ACMA
External Not applicable. Please see links provided above (description of data assets) for further details on external data sources. |
| Other notes |
Noting the multifaceted nature of this data product, the following describes how data assets have been integrated and validated against source data. Reporting against the 6 Framework indicators draws on different elements of the News media integrated data model, as outlined below. 1. Source diversity data (indicators 1 – 3) Information about some commercial broadcasters and ‘associated’ newspapers is sourced from the ACMA media control registers and combined with information about broadcasters from the ACMA’s Register of Radiocommunications Licences. PIJI’s cross-platform database of news outlets, the Australian News Index (part of the Australian News Data Project), is also a key input to the data model. This information is then joined with secondary data sources, including the ACMA register of eligible news businesses and data collected under the Framework strategy. Data cleansing and validation is conducted to remove ineligible data, identify data gaps and join common or duplicative data. Where conflicting data is identified, the data selection processes outlined in the News media in Australia: 2025 report are used to select the most reliable data. The Framework strategy is then used (where possible) to reduce data gaps identified in the previous step. Finally, a common set of terms is applied to the data prior to publication. While ABS census occupation data has also been incorporated into the data model, it is not directly linked to indicator 1 and 3 data sources described above due to lack of suitable alignment with these sources (discussed further in the News media in Australia: 2025 report). However, this dataset has also been subject to extensive data validation to confirm accuracy against source data. 2. Content diversity data (indicator 4) This part of the Framework draws solely on PIJI’s Australian News Sampling Project (another element of the Australian News Data Project). Data included in various case studies conducted as part of this sampling project was collated into a structured dataset by the Media and News Diversity Taskforce to support analysis and reporting of relevant findings. 3. Exposure diversity data (indicators 5 – 6) This element draws on ACMA annual consumer survey data and Digital News Report data provided by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and the University of Canberra’s News and Media Research Centre (trust in news). While both data sources have been incorporated into the data model and are discussed alongside one another in the News media in Australia: 2025 report, the data assets are not combined. Data validation Data validation is conducted by data stewards and members of the Media and News Diversity Taskforce to ensure source data is accurately reflected in the interactive data reports, and subsequently in the written report. |
Data quality description
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
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Media 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.
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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.
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Register of eligible news businesses
The register is based on information supplied by applicants seeking registration under the NMBC.
Each application is subject to a thorough review and analysis of the information they provide. Applicants are assessed to ensure they meet 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 obtained 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.
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Targeted desktop research
Data is collected from primary sources (that is, the licensee or publisher of the news outlet) or other verified sources and is checked for accuracy against other data assets (where possible).
Completeness
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Media 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.
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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.
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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 have to meet eligibility criteria. All applicants registered under the Code are listed on the register.
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Targeted desktop research
A range of inputs are used to ensure completeness of the data collected. However, it is not possible to assess whether data collected reflects the full extent of changes to the Australian news market in a given period. Similarly, targeted desktop research has been used to reduce rather than eliminate identified gaps in other data assets.
Relevance
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Media 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.
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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.
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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.
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Targeted desktop research
Data collected under the Framework strategy ensures that reporting against the Framework remains accurate and up to date, and therefore relevant to government, industry and other stakeholders.
Timeliness
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Media 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.
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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.
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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.
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Targeted desktop research
The Framework strategy supports ongoing data collection to ensure data underpinning the Framework remains accurate and up to date. The interactive data reports are updated with data sourced using the strategy on an ad-hoc basis after data has been validated and verified.
Collection
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Media 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’s 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, and 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.
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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.
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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 and name of the registered news source, date of registration, and relevant contact details.
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Targeted desktop research
Data is predominantly sourced directly from the public domain or internal ACMA media monitoring and analysis. Third parties that assist the ACMA by collating and providing public data do so voluntarily, and the volume and nature of the data provided is at their discretion.
Consistency
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Media 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.
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Register of Radiocommunications Licences
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 RRL.
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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.
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Targeted desktop research
Where data is sought from third parties or internal ACMA sources, instructions are provided to ensure only relevant data is provided and that any data provided is delivered in a consistent format. This data is then subject to further validation and cleansing prior to its ingestion into the data model.
Fit-for-purpose
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Media control registers
The data in the media 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
- accessibility could be improved by enabling data to be downloaded in spreadsheet format.
The Media control registers are fit-for-purpose as a Framework data source, as they contain reliable, current records that help to address the key question and data metrics relating to indicator 1 (groups, owners & controllers).
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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.
The Register of Radiocommunications Licences is fit-for-purpose as a Framework data source, as it contains reliable, current records that help to address the key question and data metrics relating to indicator 1 (groups, owners & controllers).
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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.
The Register of eligible news businesses is fit-for-purpose as a Framework data source, as it contains reliable, current records that help to address the key questions and data metrics relating to indicator 1 (groups, owners & controllers) and indicator 3 (professional news outlets).
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Targeted desktop research
Desktop researched completed under the Framework strategy is fit for purpose as it:
- allows relevant changes to the Australian news market to be identified
- helps to reduce gaps in existing data assets (where possible)
- strengthens data validation processes by introducing new data sources.
External data assets – General description of suitability
Australian News Data Project (Public Interest Journalism Initiative)
Australian non-profit think-tank PIJI provides an important source of data on the state of the Australian news market via its Australian News Data Project, which included the Australian News Index (ANI) and the Australian News Sampling Project (ANSP).
Cross-platform news outlet data from PIJI’s ANI is a key input for indicator 1 (groups, owners and controllers) and indicator 3 (professional news outlets). While content analysis data collected via various case studies conducted as part of the ANSP underpins indicator 4 (range and variety of news content).
Census occupation data (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The Census is the 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 (professional news workforce), showing the number of ‘journalists and other writers’ working in Australia and how this has changed over time.
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 2024 Digital News Report was the Reuters Institute’s 13th 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.