In many regional communities, local news is more than a source of information.

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It informs citizens, holds power to account and provides a shared space to discuss and make sense of matters affecting the community.

Yet at a time when trusted information is needed more than ever, local news is disappearing from many parts of the country.

Since 2019, 184 news outlets have closed across Australia, leaving 29 local government areas without any local news service. Many more continue to operate under significant financial pressure, with fewer reporters to cover the issues that shape local life.

Without access to relevant and trustworthy local news, people are less informed, less connected and less able to participate in civic life, posing a threat to democracy and social cohesion.

As local news becomes harder to find, many Australians are increasingly turning to digital platforms such as social media, search engines and AI chatbots.

At least 58 per cent of Australians report using AI tools to seek information, although the true figure may be higher, as many users may not realise that AI systems are already embedded within the platforms and services they use.

However, where local news is scarce, AI models are likely to generate hallucinations based on incomplete and biased training data. When information is lacking, these systems fill gaps through prediction rather than verification, as AI models are designed to prioritise fluency over accuracy.

Despite very low levels of trust in news found on AI chatbots (19 per cent), only 13 per cent always follow links to original sources, heightening their concerns about misinformation (77 per cent). In fact, Australians are among the most concerned globally. Concern about misinformation and lack of relevant news can make people switch off from news altogether. The Digital News Report: Australia has tracked audience behaviour for over a........

© The Examiner