The First Minister John Swinney has said plans to strip back STV's North-east programme sets a "damaging precedent."
The SNP leader set out his concerns in a formal response to broadcaster watchdog Ofcom, The Press & Journal reports.
The broadcaster announced in September its plans to centralise its news programme with one main broadcast from its Glasgow base in an attempt to save £3million.
Mr Swinney told The P&J: “The Scottish Government strongly believes that these proposals would not achieve the vital aim to ensure audiences are well-served with high-quality news across Scotland.
“We strongly urge Ofcom to consider the long-term implications for plurality, local democracy, and the health of Scotland’s media landscape before removing current public service obligations. Weakening these obligations would set a damaging precedent and accelerate the decline of public interest journalism in Scotland.”
STV later watered down its original plans following significant pressure. Instead, the new proposals would produce a single news programme from Glasgow, with at least 30% of the content to be specific to each licence area.
Read the full exclusive on the P&J website.