Supporting independent digital journalism
through hyperlocal news.
Hi there!
As we hurtle through the last quarter of the year, the LINA team has been busy preparing resources and templates to help small newsrooms streamline processes and prepare product launches to build revenue in 2024. Below is a little snapshot of what’s been happening at LINA in October…
We also invite you to reflect on LINA’s action-packed first year – our Annual Report 22/23 is now available for reading online.
Recently added member resources include:
- The launch of a self-paced course ‘Introduction to Media Law for Publishers’ available on demand on the LINA website;
- An explanatory list of potential revenue sources for publishers;
- An explanation of standard IAB ad sizes (and why they’re important);
- Templated risk management, complaints policy and privacy policy guides for members to customise;
- Advice on running a smooth web platform for members; and
- On demand tech support from our Chief Technical Officer for members
Shop-Talk Highlight
Guest speakers Sasha Molitorisz, Senior Lecturer – Faculty of Law, UTS; Linda Przhedetsky, Associate Professor – The Human Technology Institute; and Michael Davis, Research Fellow – The Centre for Media Transition joined LINA members last week to talk about Chatbots and Journalism. The session was an insightful conversation into the multi-layered topic of AI with discussion on how crawling works, the pros and cons of AI bots accessing your website, and the ethical implications of AI on journalism. The session recording is available in the members area on LINA’s website.
The Digital Publishing Alliance (DPA) and LINA have teamed up to present a showcase series of webinars to help members of both organisations learn about different technology options form the providers themselves. Our first webinar dives into choosing the right Content Management System (CMS), with three guests presenting their unique CMS tools: Blox Digital, Labrador CMS, and Ghost. Learn more and access the Zoom link here.
Annual Member Survey 2023
LINA is continually checking in with members to make sure we’re providing support that helps and accurate representation of the needs of digital news publishers. Our annual survey is a snapshot of the sector, as well as an opportunity to gather feedback on what’s most important to news publishers. We’re busy collating the outcomes of our 2023 survey at the moment, but wanted to share a few outtakes that have caught our attention so far:
- LINA members employ over 1,000 people across the country and have a further 450+ volunteers contributing to local news services
- Over half of LINA members have provided opportunities for reporters to be published for the first time.
- A leading benefit of LINA membership is connecting with other publishers:
- “It’s great to have found my people, even if I’m mostly too busy to talk.”
- “It is good to be part of an organisation of likeminded publications and to be able to share information, etc. with them.”
- “Just even having a body of peers I can go to with my questions, or vent to!!, has been great.”
- “The number-one benefit is just realising that there are other people out there doing the same slog we’re doing, especially as a non-Sydney-or-Melbourne publisher, and being able to bounce ideas off them.”
- What has made LINA members proud this year? Most common answer: “surviving”. But here are a couple of good news stories to share…
- “The fact we keep setting the news agenda and regularly break national stories. We are a small organisation – Our stories are regularly printed on a national scale. We continually drive the local news agenda, and cover the issues that matter. Our readership has grown tremendously this year. Our readers are engaged. We continue to champion local issues and set the news agenda. There is no better feeling than that.”
- “We were able to add three new first year cadets to our team, all of whom live in the communities we represent. Having our journalists writing as insiders to their communities is so valuable for us as hyperlocal publications.”
Data & Insights Analyst
LINA welcomes our newest team member Zahra Khalid who joined LINA as our Data & Insights Analyst this month. Zahra is based in Canberra and works with LINA Tuesday to Thursday to help members evaluate and demonstrate their impact in communities. Zahra brings a background in qualitative research at Lahore University of Management Sciences where she worked as a Research Associate. She has worked on policy recommendations for organisations such as the World Bank Organisation and PwC and holds an Honours degree in Political Science.
Legal CPD | Professional Skills | Legalwise Seminars
The Media Law Conference will explore the intricate world of media law. The in-person conference is being held in Sydney on 29 November, 2023. LINA members receive a 30% discount to register.
Canva Masterclass: Mastering Data Storytelling for Impactful Reporting
Get Tickets on Humanitix – Canva Masterclass: Mastering Data Storytelling for Impactful Reporting hosted by Walkley Foundation. Online. Tuesday 28th November 2023. Find event information.
The William Buckland Foundation Fellowship
An opportunity for regional Victorian journalists to spend 12 weeks upgrading their skills at The Age’s Melbourne office.Entries close on 15 November.
The Tarbell Fellowship is a one year programme for early-career journalists interested in covering artificial intelligence. Applications close 5 November, 2023.
We are saddened by the recent passing of Lei Parker, a friend and mentor to many who knew him, including several of our Board members. Our sincere condolences go out to Lei’s family, friends and colleagues.
A resident of Eurobodalla for over 37 years, Lei ran the The Beagle since 2016 and had a deep and long-standing history of service to his community including having worked at Eurobodalla Shire Council and contributing to community radio station, 2EAR FM. In a parliamentary speech on 12 October, Dr Michael Holland, MP for Bega expressed his sadness at Lei’s passing. View his tribute here.
Meanwhile, congratulations go to Alex Rea for progressing Moruya Mail into its first edition, published on 20 October. This is a heartfelt progression as it is both fantastic news and also a transpiration after the sad passing of Lei Parker (above) with whom Alex was in regular contact as editor of The Braidwood Bugle and as members of the same community. Moruya Mail serves the Eurobodalla community which until Lei could not manage anymore, The Beagle served for many years. Read the first edition of the Moruya Mail as a PDF here.
 lina.org.au With many Australian news businesses fighting for sustainability, attention turns overseas for replicable support models that work. The US regulatory environment provides a soft cushion for newsrooms to bring in… Read more. |
 niemanlab.org “While we recognize our members need more funding, we’ve decided that’s not our role as a membership association.” Read more. |
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