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 November:
December 2025
January 2026
- Profile community members on their hopes and priorities for the new year; a local snapshot
- How to kickstart your 2026 fitness journey, sponsored by a gym or personal trainer
- New year, new skills: profiling local classes or short courses on offer in the area (craft, fitness, learning a language etc.)
- Best places to cool down this Summer: local pools, swimming spots, ice cream shops etc.
- Photo series: how locals beat the heat, get out in the community and take photos or ask for reader contributions
- Water-saving tips
- What’s in season during the Summer: talk to grocers, supermarket staff or farmers
- The story behind your area’s traditional place names and their meanings
- Profiling local migrants on what their first day in Australia felt like
February 2026
- Profiles of local survivors or carers
- ‘Things I wish people knew about cancer’ from someone with lived experience
- Parents share how they talk to kids about digital safety
- Local school teachers share tips for staying safe online
- Interview local police or IT expert on scams and privacy
- Digital safety checklist for the community
- Interview elderly couples on the secret to lasting love
- How florists, cafes and gift shops are preparing for the day: could be sponsored by local businesses
- Photo gallery
- Interview kids from the community who speak a language other than English about what that means to them and their connection to their heritage
- Find a local language school or teacher and interview them
- What language does the local school teach? Explore why that language was chosen
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.
- 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.
State parliament media releases and alerts
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.
