Australia’s Local News Publishers Convene in South Australia for LINA Summit

Murray Bridge - Local and independent news publishers from across Australia gathered in South Australia this week for a national conference aimed at strengthening community journalism and addressing industry challenges.

The three-day annual Summit, organised by the Local & Independent News Association (LINA), was held in the regional town of Murray Bridge and brings together more than 170 publishers from across the country.

The event focused on equipping local newsrooms with tools to tackle issues such as community engagement, financial sustainability, emerging technologies and storytelling techniques.

LINA Executive Director, Claire Stuchbery, said the Summit plays a critical role in connecting journalists who often work in isolation.

“While deeply embedded in their local communities, being an independent news publisher can be a challenging job. Some of our members are the only journalists reporting in their area,” Stuchbery said.

LINA Executive Director, Claire Stuchbery.

She added that the organisation provides both practical support and opportunities for collaboration.

“One of LINA’s key roles is to help provide a network of support for people working in isolation to serve their communities.

“This is partly through the services we offer; tech support, legal advice, revenue growth programs, templates and training, and so on, but also facilitating opportunities like this for publishers to gather and connect with each other," she said 

Founded in 2022, LINA has rapidly expanded and now represents more than 170 independent digital newsrooms nationwide.

The conference began with workshops covering topics such as scaling news operations, building revenue through newsletters and developing video journalism skills. A welcome dinner was also held along the Murray River.

Managing Editor of Murray Bridge News, Peri Strathearn, said hosting the Summit marked a milestone for the local publication, which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The LINA summit is always my favourite week of the year; a time to network with amazing people, swap knowledge and feel supported in what can be a challenging operating environment,” Strathearn said.

“I hope LINA members will come away from these few days refreshed, full of enthusiasm and ready to implement what they’ve learned at their own publications around Australia,” he added.

Sessions throughout the Summit explored a range of topics, including collaboration with content creators, the role of journalism in democracy, nonprofit business models, emergency reporting and advertising strategies.

International perspectives are also featured, with United Stated-based media expert David Grant sharing insights on newsroom growth drawn from global experience.

Beyond professional development, organisers say the Summit helps shape LINA’s future agenda, with a continued focus on supporting independent publishers and highlighting the importance of local journalism in communities.

LINA is a not-for-profit national association that aims to increase the diversity and relevance of news services across Australia by providing support, training and access to critical resources for independent media organisations.