WHAT IS LINA?
LINA is an industry association supporting digital, hyperlocal and independent news publishers.
WHAT DOES LINA DO?
LINA’s job is to help digital and hybrid news publishers increase the diversity and relevance of news services in communities across Australia. Our passion is to grow existing, and encourage new, hyperlocal media entrants by providing capacity building support, expert advice and access to critical third-party services, providing a deep level of hands-on support to members.
WHO DOES THIS?
LINA was established in 2021 by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, guided by an advisory group of hyperlocal publishers and supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas. LINA has an independent Board and a small staff.
OUR KEY ACTIVITIES
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC INTEREST JOURNALISM
LINA works to ensure that local audiences are served with independent, original, high-quality public-interest news reporting covering important issues.
CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT
Access to training events, resources, tip sheets, templates, industry calendars, guides and playbooks to support your newsroom.
NETWORKING & SERVICES
We connect members with discount suppliers, expert advice and industry networks to save your news business money and time.
Hyperlocal publishers most commonly originate to fill a gap in local news coverage and/or to provide free access to local news when paywalls are introduced by other media outlets.
A SHIFTING LANDSCAPE
- From January 2019 to August 2022 there were 265 newsroom contractions and 152 expansions across Australia. A net decrease of 113 newsrooms over 2.5 years.(Public Interest Journalism Initiative, Australian Newsroom Mapping Project, 2022)
- In response to closing newsrooms, community members are increasingly establishing news services to meet a need for locally relevant news. There are approximately 350 hyperlocal publishers serving communities across Australia, as at July 2022.
- Promisingly, approximately 20% of them have launched in the past two years. These are the green shoots of the news industry.
- Around 35% of hyperlocal newsrooms operate with less than 2 staff members and 16% have zero paid staff.
- Online news has been the main source of news content for Australian audiences, overtaking television in 2020. Over 3.4 million Australians use news feed sites as their primary news source, with a further 1.8 million subscribing to email updates and 1.1million using news websites as their primary new source. – Roy Morgan, August 2020.
- 26% of news consumers source news content online, with a further 19% accessing news via social media. – Christopher Hughes, Statistica, July 2022
LINA Staff

Claire Stuchbery
Executive Director
Claire Stuchbery joined LINA from 1 July 2022 after a 20-year career in media policy, stakeholder engagement, policy development and communications.
Previously, Claire worked in policy and stakeholder engagement for First Nations Media Australia, the peak national body for First Nations not-for-profit broadcasting, media and communications.
Claire also worked in a range of senior management roles with the Community Broadcasting Foundation, ran her own media agency, worked in street press publications and was a broadcaster and board member at a number of community radio stations, including most notably, continuing volunteer roles at PBS in Melbourne.

Claire Albrecht
Operations Manager
In September 2022, Claire Albrecht joined the LINA team as Program Manager, communicating with members and facilitating member programs. Claire is now supporting the team as Operations Manager. She comes from a background in arts and not-for-profit management, digital strategy, writing and communications.
Claire is also the Editor-in-Chief of The Suburban Review, an independent literary and arts journal, and was previously Acting General Manager for the Print Council of Australia, the peak national body for printmaking artists.
She has worked as an arts journalist and sub-editor across street presses and local community newspapers, and founded the digital strategy consultancy Arts Online.

Lily Martyn
Policy & Partnerships Officer
Lily has worked across both state and local government in corporate partnerships, fundraising, sustainability, media, communications and events. Earlier in her career she has worked in fitness, corporate event management and a brief stint as a travel agent. Most recently, Lily worked for the Victorian Labor Party, primarily focused on fundraising in the lead-up to the last election.
Lily has a Bachelor in Journalism and has worked in social media for Victorian MPs. In her spare time you’ll find her running after her three boys. Lily is based in Metung in Gippsland, Victoria.
Lily leads LINA’s government and stakeholder relationships, including funding partners. If you’re interested in strengthening Australia’s democracy through a diverse news media landscape, reach out to Lily via email.

Emma Marshall
Membership Engagement Coordinator
Emma comes to LINA with a background in radio and digital content distribution. She worked as a Digital Courier Operator at Nine for 8 years, prior to which she had presenter roles at Nova and SBS Pop Asia.
Emma brings expertise in social and digital platform expertise, including database systems focused on the sharing of content across media organisations. In her spare time, Emma produces podcasts. Emma is based in Macquarie Park, New South Wales.
To learn more about joining LINA, if you’re an existing member with a question, or if you would like work with our members, contact Emma via email.

Kristen Morris
Chief Technical Officer
Kristen has a 20-year history in the management of digital teams, including working as a developer supporting journalists at The First Post (London) and more recently as Platform Manager at Medicins Sans Frontieres. Kris splits his time between LINA and The Wilderness Society where he works as a Digital Systems Specialist. Kris is based in Wattle Flats (near Peel), New South Wales.
LINA members can contact Kris for support with website bugs or issues, training support on digital tools and advice around your tech strategy. Book an appointment with Kris here, or send him an email.

Julia Mendelawitz
Communications & Administration Officer
Julia’s multifaceted background in music and the performing arts includes a career as a musician, songwriter, teacher, and arts-worker. She continues to write and record. She also worked in publishing as senior editor for a global multimedia music education publisher, and as editor for three Australian non-fiction publishers—and for one of these, additionally as an author coach.
For several years, Julia was a freelancer in the copywriting, web and digital spaces, spanning both technical and creative roles. In her earlier years, Julia spent time in the trade union movement, based at the Trades and Labor Council of W.A. in the Equal Opportunity and Arts departments concurrently, the latter of which was primarily involved in the community arts space. Later, she continued working in this sector in Melbourne. Julia is based in Seaford, Victoria and can be reached via email.
LINA Board Members
Jon Bisset, Chair
Jon is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) . He is passionate about the non-profit and charity sector having spent more than 25 years as a Chief Executive and non-executive director. Read More
Jacky Barker
Jacky is the founder of In the Cove, one of the longest continuously running hyperlocals in Australia since its launch in 2012. Jacky has worked to promote hyperlocals in Australia and has met with hyperlocal publishers overseas. In 2016, she went to the UK where she met with Centre for Community Journalism to learn about their hyperlocal movement. Read More
Emma Bones
Emma has broad ranging skills across operations, strategy, governance and finance, with a focus on charities. She is currently the General Manager of the Sydney Environment Institute. She is a registered Chartered Accountant and spent four years working as a tax accountant and adviser. Read More
Nelson Yap
Nelson Yap is the editor and publisher of Australian Property Journal (APJ). Founded in 2003, APJ is one of the oldest online digital-only publications in Australia. Nelson is passionate about media diversity, and supporting independent media and small publishers. Read More
Alan Sunderland
Alan is a journalist, author and editorial consultant with more than forty years’ experience working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Special Broadcasting Service. He worked as a news and current affairs reporter for both SBS and the ABC. Read More
Peri Strathearn
Peri Strathearn is the founder and managing editor of Murray Bridge News, an online news service in South Australia’s Murraylands. When he’s not trying to find a sustainable future of local journalism at the bottom of a cup of tea, you’ll find him playing a ukulele or adventuring with his two young daughters. Read More

Advisors in the creation of LINA
Jacky Barker | Founder, In the Cove |
Rebecca Guest | Founder & CEO, The Fold Media |
Denise Shrivell | Founder, MediaScope |
Grahame Lynch | Publisher, Northern Sydney Sun |
Kim Smee | Editor, Manly Observer |
Simon Crerar | Co-founder, PS Media |
Diana Paton | Publisher, Galston, Glenorie & Hills Rural News |
Peri Strathearn | Managing Editor, Murray Bridge News |
JessieAnne Gartlan | Editor, The Horsham Times |
Corinne Podger | Director & Principal, The Digital Skills Agency |
Alan Sunderland | Executive Director, Organization of News Ombudsmen |
SUPPORT LINA
LINA welcomes other news organisations, businesses and individuals to support us through a monthly donation.
Much like our members, we’ll invite you to LINA events and keep you updated on our activities.