By Mikayla Van Loon
Winner of a national local news survey, Adam Sadiqzai, believes a local news source in the community is essential.
Having taken part in the joint research project between Deakin University, RMIT University and Country Press Australia, Mr Sadiqzai is one of ten lucky winners of an iPad.
The survey looked at the importance of local news in regional and rural settings and asked for suggestions or observations from the community.
The survey concluded that printed news still has a strong demand and audiences would like to see more funding going to employing more journalists rather than to improving digital connectivity.
Mr Sadiqzai, who owns The Vista Cafe at Lakeside, said he wanted to be involved in the survey because he has a real interest in local news and understands the important role a local newspaper plays in a community.
“Particularly at a time like Covid, our local newspapers were like any other business and were struggling, so I thought that the survey may help,” he said.
A reader of the Gazette and the Pakenham Officer Star News, Mr Sadiqzai said he likes knowing local community media organisations are not owned by corporations and have a dedicated interest in the local area.
“I think the role that the local media plays is just essential to building good communities and informing local communities about local news,” Mr Sadiqzai said.
“Most of the news I am sincerely interested in is my local news because that impacts myself, my family and my business, so I look forward to the weekly editions of both the Gazette and Pakenham Officer Star News because it informs me of the happenings in my community and I suppose impacts me more directly.”
Mr Sadiqzai said throughout Covid-19 he really appreciated the coverage and support of local businesses by local media in the Berwick and Pakenham area, which is something he says wouldn’t happen anywhere else.
“I like the fact that my local papers are totally vested in the local community and they do that well.”
Although he counts himself lucky, having never won anything in his life, Mr Sadiqzai didn’t enter the survey for the chance of winning but to return the support to his local news service.
