The Right to Know Coalition met with Attorney-General Christian Porter and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher on Wednesday, before the findings of the parliament's intelligence committee's inquiry into press freedom are handed down in a fortnight.

Media chiefs want the ability to contest warrants that attempt to uncover journalists' sources, and for an exemption to be created to shield journalists from prosecution under national security laws.

News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller said both matters had been discussed and the government was "open to some changes".

Mr Miller said media groups would work on proposals for exemptions and defences for journalists to national security laws and meet with ministers again in three weeks.

However he would not be drawn on the details of the proposals, nor did he ask the government to intervene in cases where journalists faced prosecution.

"We're really waiting for the security committee report in two weeks time, I think they're open to all of the recommendations that come out of that report, [but] they weren't able to go into those details today," Mr Miller said.

Australian Community Media owner Antony Catalano said the meeting was "encouraging" and the government was "clearly listening". Australian Community Media is the publisher of this newspaper.

"I don't think the Communications Minister is paying lip service by calling in a band of national media executives. I get a sense there'll be a positive outcome," Mr Catalano said.

"It's very unusual for media companies who are typically competitors to band together in the way we have. It goes to show how important each of our companies believes the right to cover stories without fear of reprisals is. I'm buoyed by the fact the industry is working together for the greater good."

The campaign has faced resistance from senior figures within government though.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "no one in this country is above the law", when asked in parliament about press freedom.

Mr Porter has also said a blanket exemption for journalists would not be workable.

He cited the UK's News of the World phone hacking scandal when explaining why journalists should not be given extra protections from prosecution.

"There have been instances where journalists have gone too far. And that United Kingdom example is one of those and there just shouldn't be a blanket exemption because of someone's belonging to a profession," Mr Porter said.

But Mr Miller said the campaign was not just about journalists.

"It's about [the public's] right to know and ... a desire to have an open government," Mr Miller said.

"We get a sense that the public are understanding the issue isn't just about journalism, it's about them."

Mr Catalano said the media had used its voice in the past to bring issues such as domestic violence and climate change to the fore, and this was no different.

"We have the capacity and the voice to make sure people are aware of how their rights can be taken away from them and how issues that affect their lives can be hidden from them," Mr Catalano said.

The meeting came during the second day of High Court hearings, where News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst challenged the validity of the search warrant used by the Australian Federal Police to seize documents from her home in June.

That raid, and a subsequent operation at the ABC's offices in Ultimo 24 hours later, was the catalyst for the parliamentary inquiry.