Press gallery

The Senate press gallery.

DPS Auspic

The Senate press gallery.

DPS Auspic

Description

A number of people with cameras and notebooks sit in pink tiered seating above a carved wooden Commonwealth coat of arms and 2 Australian flags.

Copyright information

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

What is the press gallery?

The press gallery is a group of about 250 journalists and staff who work for media companies and have offices in Parliament House. They collect and publish information in newspapers, social media, television and radio on the work of the Australian Parliament.

The press gallery also describes the area in Parliament House where journalists work, including offices, studios and special viewing areas in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Role

The press gallery gathers information and publishes stories about what happens in Parliament. These stories might be about Question Time, policies and decisions of the government, the opposition, or other members of parliament.

The press gallery finds out about the work of parliament by:

The Treasurer and Minister for Finance talking to the media about the Budget.

Penny Bradfield/DPS Auspic

The Treasurer and Minister for Finance talking to the media about the Budget.

Penny Bradfield/DPS Auspic

Description

A man and a woman wearing suits stand at podiums in a large room. There are many people in the room facing them. These people have cameras, microphones and notepads. 

Copyright information

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

• observing the Senate and the House of Representatives
• observing Senate estimates and committee hearings
• interviewing members of parliament in the radio and television studios in Parliament House
• interviewing members of parliament when they arrive or leave Parliament House – this is known as a doorstop interview
• attending and asking questions at press conferences called by members of Parliament.

It is the role of the press to investigate and uncover the facts behind events and examine information. They have a professional responsibility to investigate and report on the facts and the information they find.

The work of the press gallery helps keep Australians up to date about government decisions and the work of their elected representatives. This helps the public to scrutinise – closely examine – the government and their representatives.

The power of the press

The public depends upon the press to examine the work of the Parliament and the government. Members of parliament depend on the press to inform the public about what they say and do.

Journalists and media organisations are free to decide what they will publish and how they will publish it. They decide which members of parliament they will interview and publicise. As a result, the press has a lot of influence on public opinion, and members of parliament are careful in the way they work with journalists.