In the community

News Digital Media in the Community

News Digital Media is proud of its role in the Australian community: informing and inspiring millions of readers every day.

In 2010, Lifeline and News Digital Media partnered to create a new online information and support service that will help more Australians get the emotional support they need.

Lifeline’s online service may save lives, by offering people who may not be comfortable calling Lifeline’s existing telephone service, 13 11 14, a more anonymous medium to connect with trained crisis support volunteers.

News Digital Media went through a rigorous process to select their inaugural cause partner. Lifeline was selected for two key reasons.

News Digital Media was looking for an organisation that it could support beyond mere fundraising and donations, and one where their contribution would make a real difference to society.

As Lifeline had not yet begun to expand their online services, they fitted the bill on both counts – News Digital Media could offer its expertise to help Lifeline build their online services which, when launch have the potential to revolutionise counselling in Australia.

The partnership offered News Digital Media a real opportunity to make a significant positive difference to our community.

To date, News Digital Media has provided Lifeline with invaluable advice and expertise, including creative design and development, project and resources management, marketing, social media, security and usability. News Digital Media staff have also helped plan, design and run several advertising campaigns for Lifeline, and provided editorial support through news.com.au and The Punch.

Around ten per cent of News Digital Media staff have already contributed to the partnership.

Lifeline Online Crisis Chat

First major milestone of the partnership is the launch of a three month trial of Lifeline Online Crisis Chat a one-to-one online crisis support platform, between April and June 2011. Available nightly between 8pm and midnight, it will be put Australians in touch with experienced crisis support volunteers via a chat platform similar to msn’s messenger service. The trial is an Australian first with the potential to revolutionise counselling services in Australia. The extension of the trial is subject to further funding, which will be determined post-July.

News Digital Media is supporting the launch through a targeted advertising campaign, editorial coverage and technical and creative support.

Climate Change – One Degree Initiative

In 2007, News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch announced a major initiative to address climate change - committing all of its global operations across the world to becoming carbon neutral in 2010, and to inspire action around the world. At the beginning of 2011, the company confirmed that it had achieved its first major sustainability goal and was the first company of its kind to do so.

Here in Australia, News Digital Media is committed to being a leader on the issue of climate change and was the first News Corp asset in Australia to become carbon neutral in 2007.

News Digital Media achieved carbon neutrality through a combination of reducing its carbon emissions as much as possible, and then offsetting what we can't. Even though the company is carbon neutral, it continues to work hard on reducing its emissions even further.
Becoming carbon neutral is only the beginning of our permanent commitment to change the way we use energy and inspire our audience on this issue.
As one of Australia’s leading digital media publishers, we are committed to informing, educating and enabling individuals to understand what they can do to help. You can find out more at 1degree.com.au.