LINA - Local & Independent News Association

02/09/2026

Fitzmedia has brought the idea of a regional TV station into the digital age, connecting the Warrnambool community with local news, sport, events, community groups and stories from across South West Victoria.

They reach over 115,000 viewers through an online news platform that puts local stories in front of regional audiences, while using commercial production to help fund local programming.

Last week we joined them and many in the Warrnambool community for their first Open Newsroom event.

Congratulations to Liam Fitzgerald and the Fitzmedia Productions team on a fantastic event and for championing local news!

19/08/2026

Great to see MPs across the political spectrum recognising in Parliament this week the vital role of public interest journalism - in particular local and independent media - and why mechanisms like the News Bargaining Incentive are so important to our democracy.

16/08/2026

11/08/2026

We’re in Canberra today with several LINA members, meeting with MPs and continuing discussions on the News Bargaining Incentive.

Together we’re making the case for policies that give local and independent newsrooms the support they need to thrive.

It’s great to be here representing independent publishers from across Australia and advocating for a sustainable future for local news.

09/08/2026

LINA welcomes the Australian Government’s proposed News Bargaining Incentive (NBI).

We’re encouraged that the Government has listened to industry feedback by:

- increasing loadings for smaller publishers
- recognising journalists serving regional and underrepresented communities
- broadening the definition of eligible journalism roles
- proposing a dedicated grant program for smaller publishers.

These are important steps in the right direction. But there’s more work to do.

As the legislation moves through Parliament, we believe a small number of practical changes are needed. This means making sure local and independent publishers aren’t left behind, that more funding reaches smaller organisations, and that Australia’s media diversity continues to grow.

We’ll continue working constructively with government and industry to encourage policy-making that supports sustainable public interest journalism for communities across Australia.

Read the joint statement here: https://lina.org.au/2026/08/05/joint-statement-government-takes-action-to-support-local-independent-australian-news-and-journalism/

04/08/2026

Applications are open for NSW newsrooms to become host publishers for Know Your Neighbour 2026, delivered in partnership with Multicultural NSW.

If you’re a NSW publisher looking to help shape the next generation of local journalists while strengthening your newsroom, we’d love to hear from you.

Last year’s program showed the value of bringing young voices into local newsrooms. Participating publishers reported fresh perspectives, new ideas and stronger connections with their communities, while building future talent pathways and expanding their digital storytelling capacity.

The impact continued beyond the program, with many participating newsrooms going on to offer paid work to the young journalists they mentored.

Swipe through to see the impact of the 2025 Know Your Neighbour program.

🗓️ Applications close 14 August 2026.

Find out more: https://lina.org.au/for-newsrooms/grants-and-funding/nsw-young-journalists/

30/07/2026

📣 Call out to NSW newsrooms: applications are now open for Know Your Neighbour!

We’re looking for 20 local newsrooms to become host publishers for our youth journalism initiative delivered in partnership with Multicultural NSW.

Host newsrooms will mentor two young people (aged 15-25) from their community as they receive journalism training and create digital stories reflecting the diversity of their communities.

In return, participating publishers receive funding to support mentoring and publication, while helping to amplify new voices and strengthen community connections through local journalism.

Newsrooms involved in last year’s program said young contributors brought fresh and diverse perspectives, new ideas and community connections, while building future talent pathways and expanding their newsroom’s digital content capacity.

More than a third of the 2025 participating publishers said they would continue to provide paid work to the young journalists after the program ended.

If you’re a NSW publisher and would like to be part of this initiative in 2026, we’d love you to apply.

🗓️ Applications close 14 August 2026.

Find out more: https://lina.org.au/for-newsrooms/grants-and-funding/nsw-young-journalists/

23/07/2026

What’s the one project your newsroom keeps talking about…but never quite has time to tackle?

For many LINA members, the biggest barrier to innovation isn’t a lack of ideas, it’s finding the time to make them happen.

Applications are currently open for the LINA Business Development Incubator.

Over the next 12 months, media strategist Olivia McDonnell will work alongside selected LINA members to help turn your ambitious ideas into reality. It could be launching a membership program, creating a new sponsorship product, improving workflows or testing something entirely new. Olivia will help do the heavy lifting to get your project off the ground.

We’re looking to support around 15–30 projects that will strengthen commercial capability, diversify revenue and build more sustainable independent news businesses.

LINA members can submit up to three project ideas, with a maximum of two projects selected per publisher.

Learn more: https://lina.org.au/for-newsrooms/business-operations/business-development-incubator/

15/07/2026

In Australia, interest in news is up. According to the 2026 Digital News Report, younger audiences in particular are consuming more news than they were just a few years ago.

What has changed is how people are accessing this information, with 43% of Australians now getting their news from influencers and creators.

As journalists and publishers, we need to adapt to meet audiences in these spaces, so people still have access to independent, fact-checked news. We're working on this now with almost 200 newsrooms across Australia.

14/07/2026

A lively speech in the NSW Legislative Assembly last week, with reporting from the New England Times at the centre...

Communities need independent, local journalism to hold decision-makers to account by covering the issues that matter most.

Read the full story here: https://www.netimes.com.au/2026/06/24/local-councils-not-consulted-in-nationals-plan-to-kill-new-england-rez/