LINA - Local & Independent News Association

Home
Australia
Alexandria, NSW
LINA - Local & Independent News Association

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

The Local & Independent News Association (LINA) is an industry association supporting digital, hyperlocal and independent news publishers.

04/11/2026

Running a local newsroom means making constant decisions about where to put your time and resources.

The new LINA Sustainability Audit helps you step back, assess your business health and identify practical opportunities to strengthen your newsroom - from financial foundations to operations and journalistic impact.

This is evidence backed: LION Publishers have developed recommendations based on over 1,000 completed audits. LINA and LION have worked together to adapt the audits for Australian newsrooms, and it's now available free to all LINA members.

Learn more: https://lina.org.au/for-newsrooms/revenue-growth/sustainability-audits/

02/11/2026

Independent newsrooms don’t always have access to the same back-office support as larger media organisations. We’re working to change that by connecting our members with services, expertise and discounts that help them spend less time on admin and more time on journalism.

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Aero Group Accounting & Tax, bringing expert accounting and bookkeeping support to LINA members.

Aero understands the unique challenges of independent media businesses. They’ve helped publishers save 100+ hours a year on accounting admin, save $20,000 a year in tax through a change in company structure, and navigate the financial side of acquiring another publication.

And to celebrate, we’re covering the cost of a tax return for the first 25 eligible LINA members!

The offer is open to 15 companies and 10 sole traders who have completed a LINA Sustainability Audit.

Find out more about the new service and eligibility requirements: https://lina.org.au/for-newsrooms/business-operations/bookkeeping-and-accounting/

28/10/2026

Lovely to catch up with LINA members and partners at the CBAA Conference in Geelong on the weekend.

Sharna Rogers from Fitzmedia ran a fantastic session on lean newsroom operations, showing how partnerships between news publishers and community broadcasters can work in practice.

Tom Mooney from Democracy Counts shared insights into key reforms with widespread public support and how we can strengthen civic engagement for everyone. Brenda Melhuish and Claire also caught up with AAP to explore opportunities for collaboration.
It was great to connect with Eduardo Jordan from 4EB, Charles Parkana from Victorian Aboriginal News, Shane Dunlop from C31, Tyler Speers from KBI Group and many more familiar faces working to create and support independent media across Australia.

26/10/2026

Local news publishers will probably agree there's some fitting names among our three newest LINA members...

Welcome Pandaemonium, Have a Go News and Menangle Park Guide to the LINA movement!

We’re looking forward to supporting their work and connecting them with a network of independent and publishers sharing knowledge and a commitment to independent journalism.

22/10/2026

Our 2025–26 Annual Report is out now! We’re excited to share a look back at the highlights, projects and partnerships that have shaped our work and impact over the past year.

Read it here: https://lina.org.au/about/annual-reports/

20/10/2026

Why local journalism matters ⬇️ ⬇️

This month property giant Goodman Group withdrew its application for the $1.2 billion Lane Cove data centre, citing changes to the regulatory environment and community feedback among the reasons for pulling the project.

In the Cove has been covering the proposed 'Project Mars' development for the past 18 months, keeping the community across the planning process, concerns and the record number of public responses.

In the Cove's committed coverage of the issue gave local residents the information they needed to understand how the development could impact them, form their own opinions on the issue, and voice these through the consultation process.

Local news feeds information not just into the community, but also share feedback out of the community, amplifying local voices so policy makers can represent community needs.

In the Cove says: "We've been on this story since the first letterbox drop in April 2025, and in the room at every meeting since."

See their coverage of this week's announcement: https://inthecove.com.au/2026/09/28/goodman-withdraws-project-mars-data-centre/

And the BBC's pick up, citing In the Cove's coverage: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6n9wrqpj4yqo

01/10/2026

Queensland independent news outlet The Pineapple investigated growing concerns around flood mapping, exploring how council decisions about flood risk and future development could be improved.

The story, supported by a LINA microgrant, reached experts and decision-makers, showing how local reporting can help keep important public conversations moving.

Read the article here: https://thepineapple.net.au/2026/08/18/personal-threats-lower-property-values-higher-insurance-costs-and-a-housing-crisis-can-council-flood-maps-stand-the-pressure/

01/10/2026

As local newspapers have disappeared, independent publishers are stepping in to keep communities informed and connected.

It was great to see this important role of local and independent media highlighted on ABC Landline.

The episode features LINA member Scenic Rim Media and the women behind the Beaudesert Bulletin, launched in 2020.

As journalist Keer Moriarty says: “People still want to know what’s happening with the local events, what’s happening with the council… even stories about local people.”

Watch the full segment here: https://iview.abc.net.au/video/RF2504Q032S00?t=3336

28/09/2026

It's World News Day - a chance to recognise the value of local journalism.

Across Australia, local and independent publishers are reporting on council decisions, courts, schools, businesses, emergencies and the stories that bring communities together. By living and working in the communities they cover, they're building trust where it matters most.

Today, we're celebrating our the local and independent member newsrooms working every day to keep communities informed, connected and resilient.

28/09/2026

It's World News Day. Thank you to journalists and news publishers for the work that you do for our communities (and shoutout also to the not-so-local but also vital independents).

Address

44 Botany Road
Alexandria, NSW
2015

Telephone

+61280637031

Website

http://www.lina.org.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when LINA - Local & Independent News Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.