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The Albanese government is spending $67 million to help cover the wages of journalists across Australia, and the scale of the program is raising some uncomfortable questions. Through the Journalism Assistance Fund, media companies can receive $39,000 for each full-time equivalent journalist over three years. The money is being paid as a wage subsidy through the office of Communications Minister Annika Wells. Some of the biggest media companies have received substantial amounts. Nine Entertainment was awarded $16 million, Seven received $11 million, and Australian Community Media received $6 million. In total, 184 newsrooms secured funding in just 28 days, with the government helping to pay the wages of more than 2,000 journalists. The payments will continue until March 2028 and are released gradually after progress reports are submitted. However, funded outlets are not required to tell readers that they are receiving government support. There is no evidence that any of these media companies have changed their reporting because of the funding. Still, when journalists are being paid partly by the same government they are expected to scrutinise, it is fair to ask whether the arrangement could damage public trust. Taxpayers may support helping Australian journalism survive, especially after major platforms reduced payments for news. But many people will still wonder whether wealthy private media companies should be receiving millions of dollars from the government. What do you think? Is this sensible support for Australian journalism, or is the government getting too close to the media?