Regional Australians deserve to have their stories told.

Regional media businesses, across television, radio and print, have been serving their local communities for decades. Most local radio stations have been operating for more than 40 years and newspapers have been publishing continuously for more than a century.

But they may not survive.

The trusted local media voices that locals know and love — the outlets that are part of the very fabric of regional Australia and your community — are at breaking point. They are struggling under archaic regulations that restrict ownership and are well past their use-by date.

Regional Australians deserve better.

Unless the Federal Government acts quickly, a vibrant, sustainable and independent local media presence looks increasingly unlikely.

Australian Community Media, Prime Media Group, Southern Cross Austereo and WIN Network - have united, along with veteran journalist, Ray Martin, for the Save Our Voices campaign. We are committed to fight for urgent reforms to outdated laws that put the future of local media at risk and threaten to leave millions of regional Australians without local news and vital information services.

If regional media businesses are to survive, the Government must overhaul obsolete media regulations that were devised 30+ years ago, before the internet, Google and Facebook even existed.

Executive Chairman and co-owner of ACM, Antony Catalano, said:

"To keep the voices of regional Australia strong and to keep our trusted local news services viable, regional media needs to be able to make commercially sensible decisions that allow us to stay profitable, sustainable and self-sufficient."

Without regional media, who will tell the stories of regional Australians?

Southern Cross Austereo Chief Executive Officer, Grant Blackley said:

"We should envision a better place where there is a strong and sustainable local voice and where government recognises the contribution of people and businesses outside the capital cities."

We encourage you to add your voice to help us save our local services in news and community information before it's too late.

We will carry the voice of regional Australia with us as we argue for a viable, long-term and independent local media for all regional Australians.

Please act now. Sign the petition and visit www.saveourvoices.com.au for more information.