SYDNEY - Australia's major media organizations on Monday joined forces to back publisher Bauer's appeal against the nation's largest defamation payout awarded to Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson, arguing the size of the damages could stifle public-interest journalism.

Newspaper publishers News Corp and Fairfax, radio station owner Macquarie and television broadcasters ABC, Seven and Nine filed the documents with the Victorian Court of Appeal Monday.

Their joint lawyer Justin Quill said the six "unlikely bedfellows" were seeking leave to intervene in Bauer Media's appeal against the damages award.

"The fact six media companies have combined demonstrates how serious this issue is," he wrote in News Corp's Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper.

Quill said the media organizations were appealing Justice John Dixon's decision to award Wilson Aus$3.9 million (US$3.1 million) in special damages and Aus$650,000 in general and aggravated damages.

The award was far higher than the statutory cap of Aus$389,500 for general damages, which has risen from Aus$250,000 since the ceiling was introduced under uniform defamation laws across all Australian jurisdictions in 2005.

The "Pitch Perfect" star was awarded the damages against Bauer Media by an Australian court in September over magazine articles claiming she lied about her age and background to further her career.

Wilson has said she would give the defamation payout to charity. - AFP