Sad day as Darwin news service switches off

Today is indisputably a sad day for Darwin.

How disappointing that our capital city no longer has a local Channel 9 news bulletin, with Nine executives announcing earlier that the Darwin news service has been cut.

Channel 9 Darwin - & before that Channel 8 - was the bastion of  news delivery for Darwin residents. A voice for Territorians & a newsroom that served as a talent pool producing some of the best journos in Australia today.

Instead, Darwin residents will receive Queensland’s news.

Let that sink in for a minute. 

Every night we will be watching stories about a 93 year old Ipswich grandma winning the lotto. Or a new toll impacting Brisbane motorists. Or a local QLD politician talking about free bus rides for their constituents.

Riveting. 

The role of traditional media has never been more important.

And it is naive and misguided to think otherwise.

In an era where tik tokers are giving their popcorn version of the news, & social media commentators spread gossip as fact, it is vital mainstream media remains as our source of truth. 

Media is not dying. In fact the job of journalists is more vital than ever.

Especially in the Northern Territory. 

Up here we’ve never been short of a story to tell. The good and the bad. 

And it is so important these stories continue to be told.