Hopkins urges change of Australia media rules

A leading newspaper executive in Australia is urging the government to lift restrictions on companies owning both papers and radio stations in the same regional market. Brendan Hopkins, ceo of APN News and Media, says Australia could learn from New Zealand, where radio news has benefited from the company's ownership of local papers. "There is no doubt that local radio working closely with local publications will give better local content than if they were working separately," said Hopkins. APN, part of the global group run by Irish media tycoon, Tony O'Reilly, publishes 23 daily and more than 100 other regional papers in both countries. (Via The Australian)