Regional newspapers that are too timid will die out, according to a presenter at a Regional Media symposium hosted by Central Queensland University Rockhampton this month (May 3).

Canberra Times editor-in-chief Jack Waterford (pictured) said newspapers could write their own death warrants by making themselves less relevant.

Mr Waterford said there was no place for newspapers that were too timid about offending anyone - least of all powerful interests or advertisers - or that were too concerned about damaging local morale.

"The survival of regional mediums, as with all media, turns on whether they have to be the centre of debate within their communities," he said.

"An editor must want all of his/her readers to think that the newspaper is the logical place to look for information on a subject of local/regional interest ... that it is the place where different views are expressed and where the reader with an opinion to contribute would think to express it.

Mr Waterford said regional newspapers should be wary about 'prostituting' their product in a futile attempt to woo young readers, when it was fact that two-thirds of regional readers were over 40.

"Regional media has lost too much of its personality, is too much formula driven, and is understaffed by undertrained journalists who have little of the time to really develop news," he said.

"Some may say this is a consequence of profit-structures, but those who settle for the second rate are condemning not only the future of their mediums, but, all too often, the communities as well.

The symposium was presented by Central Queensland University's School of Contemporary Communication in conjunction with the Australian Broadcasting Authority, the Communication Law Centre and the regional media.