The Australian Press Council is pleased to welcome two new small online publisher members along with a new Council member, Hartley Higgins. The new small publisher members are Pro Bono News and The Urban Developer.

The publications join hundreds of other print and online media outlets that have committed themselves to the Press Council’s high standards of practice and its mission to advocate for press freedom and freedom of speech.

Press Council Chair Neville Stevens, AO said these new members demonstrate the Australian Press Council’s ongoing commitment to support smaller, specialist online publications.

“Their membership is an expression of confidence in the Council and signals the growing importance of digital publications in a rapidly changing media landscape,” he said.

The Urban Developer’s Editorial Director Ana Narvaez said Press Council membership would support the organisation’s goal to create strong and independent coverage of Australia’s property markets and built environment. “With its long history of upholding high editorial standards and advocating for press freedom, membership will help us play a more meaningful part in Australia’s publishing industry,” she said.

Pro Bono News Editor Wendy Williams also welcomed today’s announcement: “Pro Bono News is delighted to be admitted to the Australian Press Council. Membership gives our readers the reassurance of a strong complaints-handling process and provides us with a solid foundation to maintain high standards of practice,” she said.

The Urban Developer was founded by Adam Di Marco in 2014.
Pro Bono News was founded by Karen Mahlab, AM in 2000.

Hartley Higgins has joined as a Council member, nominated by Country Press Australia. Mr Higgins is Chairman and Managing Director of Provincial Press Group, a fourth generation regional and special interest publisher. His nomination was ratified at the most recent Press Council meeting in December 2020.

The Australian Press Council was established in 1976 and is responsible for promoting high standards of media practice, community access to information of public interest and freedom of expression through the media. Press Council members include many of Australia’s major newspaper, magazine and online publishers.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact the Australian Press Council’s media advisor, Dorothy Kennedy, at dorothy.kennedy@presscouncil.org.au or call the Press Council on (02) 9261 1930.