Coalition under pressure as ministers lobby the PM to save our newspapers

It comes as the Federal Labor leader says he's ready to sit down and find a solution now.

The Coalition ministers have lobbied the Prime Minister to respond to the frontpage stories across ACM newspapers on Wednesday warning that regional newspaper could go under as soon as next month.

ACM understands any official policy or intervention is in "early days" of development.

The ministers, including Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and Health Minister Greg Hunt have raised the issue of newspapers potentially shutting down when a newsprint price hike lands on July 1.

"We must have a vibrant fourth estate, otherwise I can get away with anything," Mr Joyce said in Singleton on Wednesday.

ACM, the owner of this masthead, was recently notified that the only Australian supplier of the newsprint used for regional newspapers will soon increase prices by as much as 80 per cent.

"The impact could be catastrophic," the editorial warned, threatening regional news coverage and journalism jobs.

The call comes as the federal election is being fought on issues like business costs and cost of living, with large amount of money being splashed around by the parties seeking for voters to put them into power after May 21.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the loss of print news would be "massive" with the role that regional newspapers having in their communities being a critical one.

"I've always been very sympathetic when I have met with regional media, WIN and others about the pressures they are under," he told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"I would take a constructive role on any of those issues. For now, during caretaker, I would be prepared to sit down and I believe they play an important role and it is legitimate to make sure they have support."

Regional communities, including Canberra, potentially impacted by this were facing circumstances beyond their control, he said.

Scott Morrison is yet to comment on the situation, but several ministers said the issue was raised with him and the Coalition was considering a policy response before the election.

"I spoke with the Prime Minister and the leadership group this morning from Tasmania," Mr Hunt said in Burnie on Tuesday.

"I was part of a national hookup which was considering it.

"I don't want to preempt the decisions of the Prime Minister and the Communications Minister [Paul Fletcher], but I can say that as recently as this morning the Prime Minister was engaged in the issue."

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It comes as regional MPs are raising their voices for someone to answer the call and protect regional newspapers.

Eden Monaro MP Kristy McBain says independent regional media is facing a crisis but the Prime Minister could only offer a "too little, too late" response.

"Scott Morrison has been too little, too late with support for public interest journalism despite widespread newsroom closures and the emergence of news deserts around the country," Ms McBain said.

"He failed to properly address a range of recommendations to support regional media, and the number of local government areas without coverage by a single local newspaper has increased from 21 to 31 on his watch."

Nationals MP Michael McCormack said he appreciated that many people still want a printed newspaper, and the government was prepared to work with regional publishers.

"It is in caretaker mode, the government, and of course, there are a lot of competing pressures on the money that is available, and, of course, it's not only the newspaper industry that's doing it a bit tough at the moment," the former deputy prime minister said on Wednesday.

"Right across the board sectors can't find people and I appreciate there's a lot of competing interest for money, but also appreciate the role regional newspapers make in our communities."

He said he didn't want to see fewer journalists in the community.

"When you have an event in Wagga or elsewhere, we want to see journalists recording the news, recording the events and recording what people are saying and that's fantastic."