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Story leads

Monthly content inspiration for publishers

Story ideas for the month or year ahead, key news industry events for your calendar, a little prompt on revenue streams you might want to think about this month, helpful mailing lists to subscribe to, and a list of useful spokespeople, government and helpline references to refer your readers to, or to draw upon yourself.

Coming up in July:

  • Share a list of activities for a rainy day in your area (could be your local cinema, art gallery, best cafe for a hot chocolate, bookstore etc)
  • Profile an Indigenous owned business in your area, or in Australia, that has products which can be shipped to your area.
  • Research and write about the Indigenous history in your area; What languages were spoken? Are there important landmarks nearby that your readers could visit?
  • Commission an article from an Indigenous freelance writer.
  • Share what your publication is doing to amplify and support Indigenous voices.
  • How to celebrate in your area
  • Which businesses are taking part?
  • Where can readers go for light shows, lunch or other Christmas in July festivities?

August:

  • Publish short pieces from local young people on what matters to them.
  • Share a round-up of local internships, training, volunteering and youth programs.
  • Profile local emergency service volunteers, aid workers or disaster response teams.
  • Highlight community organisations supporting vulnerable residents.
  • Explore how local charities respond during natural disasters or crises.
  • The Kennedy Awards are hosted in Sydney, with finalists announced in July and the gala presentation hosted in August.
  • They are a national media awards program, and have been running since 2011.

September:

  • Invite readers to submit letters about what they love, want to change, or hope for in their local area, then feature a curated selection online or in print to amplify community voices.
  • Encourage readers to write open letters to local councillors, MPs, community leaders, or organisations about important local issues.
  • Ask community members to write a letter to their town or city five or ten years from now, sharing their hopes and predictions. Publish the most inspiring entries as a special World Letter Writing Day feature.
  • Partner with local health professionals to answer anonymous reader questions about sexual health, consent, contraception, STI testing, and relationships, helping tackle misinformation with trusted, evidence-based information.
  • Create a practical guide to local sexual health clinics, free or low-cost testing services, youth resources, and community organisations.
  • Spotlight local giving stories, featuring short pieces on everyday community generosity.
  • Publish a round-up of local charities and volunteer opportunities.
  • Publish short stories or reflections from readers about books that shaped them, highlighting local schools and libraries.
  • Share a practical list of local programs and library initiatives that help children and adults improve reading and writing skills.

October:

  • Publish short profiles or interviews with older residents sharing life lessons, local history, and what has changed in the local community over time.
  • Share a simple round-up of local services, social groups, and volunteering opportunities that help older people stay connected and supported.
  • Share personal stories from community members about mental health, focusing on recovery, coping strategies and reducing stigma.
  • Publish a clear, accessible list of local mental health services, crisis hotlines and low-cost counselling options so readers can easily find support when needed.
  • Share local trick-or-treat suburb maps.
  • Best decorated houses competition.
  • Retail spending trends (costumes/candy).
  • Community safety guides for kids.

November:

  • Publish interviews with local journalists about press freedom, safety, and why independent reporting matters.
  • Explain how your newsroom verifies information and protects sources.
  • Host a Q&A with reporters about the challenges of local journalism.
  • Invite readers to nominate local “quiet achievers” making a difference.
  • Publish positive stories about volunteers, neighbourhood initiatives, or community groups.
  • Give young people the opportunity to guest-edit part of the publication or contribute articles.
  • Investigate issues affecting local children, such as education, housing, sport, or mental health.

December:

  • Share a list of the best beaches, rivers, and swimming holes near your region.
  • “Heat survival guide” (cooling centres, library hours, vulnerable residents support).
  • Lifeguard and SES rescues roundup (service + safety reporting).
  • Local tourism boost: cafés, caravan parks, regional day trips.
  • Share an article on free/cheap kids activities list (updated weekly).
  • “Boredom busters” guide by suburb.
  • Teen summer jobs explainer + local hiring roundups.
  • Youth photo competition: “My summer holidays.”
  • Audit accessibility around your town and publish the findings.
  • Feature stories from local people with disabilities about community inclusion.
  • Review your own newsroom’s accessibility, including website and newsletter design.
  • Explain how local issues connect to human rights, such as housing, disability access, or domestic violence support.
  • Hold a community forum on civic participation and accountability.
  • Publish an explainer on residents’ rights when dealing with local government or public services.

2027:

January:

  • Audit how accessible local businesses and public spaces are.
  • Feature stories from people who are blind or have low vision.
  • Review your own website and digital accessibility.
  • Interview inspiring local teachers, principals or students.
  • Explore education trends in your region, from early learning to adult education.
  • Ask readers what skills they’d like to learn this year and compile local learning opportunities.
  • Profile households, farms or businesses adopting renewable energy.
  • Explain what clean energy projects are planned locally.
  • Publish practical advice on reducing energy costs.

February:

  • Profile local cancer survivors and carers.
  • Highlight screening programs and support services.
  • Interview local researchers, clinicians or fundraising groups.
  • Examine local inequality, housing affordability or employment trends.
  • Host a community conversation about barriers people face.
  • Profile organisations working to improve equity.

March:

  • Feature local conservation projects and volunteers.
  • Publish a guide to native wildlife found in your region.
  • Invite readers to share wildlife photographs.
  • Profile 3–5 local women running small businesses or side hustles
  • Ask how cost-of-living pressures are affecting women-led businesses differently
  • Look into which local industries have the highest proportion of women leaders
  • Visit a local multicultural business precinct and ask owners how diversity drives customers
  • Profile a family business that has adapted products/services for Australian audiences
  • What languages are most commonly spoken by customers in local shops?
  • Interview a local First Nations health or education organisation about funding challenges
  • Spotlight an Indigenous-owned business and how community support affects growth
  • Look into the Indigenous history of your area

April:

  • Easter events in the area
  • Ask locals about their Easter traditions
  • Profile on a local Church
  • Profile a business or organisation running school-holiday programs
  • Ask parents how they juggle childcare, work and costs during school holidays
  • What do kids say is the best (and worst) part of school holidays?
  • Interview a local business or council initiative reducing waste or energy use
  • Ask residents what environmental changes they’ve actually made at home
  • Visit a local park, creek or bushland area and ask people why it matters to them
  • Interview a veteran
  • Research past veterans from your area or community
  • Profile a local service
  • Ask young people about their connection to the day, exploring how ANZAC day traditions will continue as time passes

May:

  •  Contact the local IT services, or computer/electronics stores in your community
  • ‘Ways to stay safe online’ sponsored content
  • Speak to a local employer or small business about hiring challenges right now
  • Interview workers in an industry under pressure (healthcare, retail, construction) about conditions and morale
  • How have wages, job security or workplace expectations changed locally in the past five years?
  • What services does your community have, in relation to pregnancy care?
  • Interview kids at the local school about what they love about their mums
  • Profile business owners, community leaders who are also mums about the balance
  • Business round-up: florists, cafes, activity spaces about offers for Mother’s Day
  • Interview a not-for-profit or charity about funding pressures and reliance on volunteers
  • Spend a day with a volunteer (SES, op shop, surf lifesaving, school canteen) and document what they do
  • What the budget means for the people in your area, saving money tips.
  • Speak with community groups, business leaders and any individuals directly impacted by the budget.
  • Look into inclusion in your community. What resources exist for LGBTQIA+ residents? How do schools and prominent community workplaces support these people?
  • Local history profile: What land are you on? What is the land known for? Who are the key First Nations community leaders in your area?
  • Talk to teachers from the local school on how they teach the Stolen Generations and reconciliation

June:

  • Investigate local environmental issues such as waste, waterways, biodiversity or renewable energy.
  • Invite readers to nominate their favourite local natural places.
  • Partner with community groups for a tree planting or clean-up event.
  • Report on the health of local beaches, rivers or marine habitats.
  • Profile local fishers, surf lifesavers, marine scientists or conservation volunteers.
  • Publish a guide to reducing plastic pollution in your community.
  • Profile local blood donors and recipients.
  • Partner with a local donor centre to encourage community participation.
  • Share stories showing the real impact of blood donation.
  • Tell the stories of refugees who have built new lives in your community.
  • Highlight organisations supporting settlement and inclusion.
  • Showcase multicultural businesses, food and cultural events.

Open-source website tracking for journalists

Klaxon is a web-based tool that enables reporters, editors and researchers alike to monitor any number of websites for newsworthy changes, including government or corporate sites (think Council websites, MP announcements, donation registers…).

It’s designed for monitoring websites for additions, removals or other changes, and can be a helpful tool for finding important public interest stories. Use this guide from LINA’s Technical Manager to set up Klaxon.

Useful contacts and spokespeople

We’ve compiled a list of useful contacts for you to reference in related articles. LINA keeps this list as current as possible, however please check links before publication. Let us know if you spot anything out of date so we can update.

FREE DOWNLOADABLE Useful contacts list Government and helpline contacts for journalists and publishers.  
  • Economic Media Centre: has a database of spokespeople with lived expertise in economic inequality and a range of social issues, including disability, housing, education, refugees, social security and First Nations.
  • Nature Media Centre: also a database of trusted experts on all things nature, environment and sustainability. Contact this team to get support finding relevant case studies or local stories.

Helpful mailing lists for publishers to subscribe to

To receive regular updates, alerts and useful media information around local government, it’s worth subscribing to these mailing lists. LINA keeps this list as current as possible, but let us know if there are any that need updating.

  • Subscribe to receive BOM updates
  • Optional media releases / alerts for journalists
  • For information on how to find your local council, check the useful contacts list above.
  • To find their mailing list/media information, try scrolling to the bottom of their website, and finding a headline like ‘media contact’ or ‘news’.
  • If you can’t find anything under your council website, your local MP may have a mailing list on their own website.

State parliament media releases and alerts

  • Find media releases and statements here.
  • Subscribe to your chosen parliamentary service mailing list.
  • Subscribe to your parliamentary committee mailing list.
  • Find media releases here.
  • Find media releases here.
  • Find media releases here.
  • Find the latest media statements here.
  • Find the latest government announcements here.

Useful apps for emergency alerts

  • Emergency+ (by Australian Government). This app is great for both receiving emergency alerts and finding emergency services near you. It provides information on fires, floods, severe weather, and other crises across Australia. Journalists can use this to stay updated in real time.
  • Fires Near Me (by NSW RFS). Specifically designed for fire alerts, it’s a great tool for journalists in fire-prone areas. It provides real-time information on bushfires across New South Wales and other states.
  • Alert SA (by Government of South Australia). This app sends emergency alerts for bushfires, floods, storms, and other emergencies. It’s designed to provide up-to-date information to help with reporting on disasters.
  • Australian Red Cross – Emergency (Emergency Services). This app delivers alerts about local emergency situations and offers information on first aid, shelters, and disaster management.
  • BOM Weather (Bureau of Meteorology). An essential app for receiving weather alerts, including warnings for severe storms, bushfires, or floods. Ideal for staying updated on conditions that may impact local reporting.

Check out what other LINA members are doing

Meet the Newsrooms is a LINA podcast series introducing you to Australia’s local and independent digital news publishers. It discusses the most interesting stories editors have published, as well as the creative ways they are generating revenue and maintaining engagement.

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