The Our News, Your Voice campaign continues through to midnight on Sunday, May 4. The goal is to raise money for 50 independent newsrooms across the country, including the Lismore App.

LINA (Local & Independent News Association) is the organisation behind the grassroots campaign. So far, $70,000 has been raised.

The Our News, Your Voice campaign is a timely opportunity to reflect on the role of local and independent media in democracy, holding authorities accountable, and bringing communities together in an increasingly polarised society.

Independent newsrooms, such as ours, don't have the backing of Rupert Murdoch or a company like ACM that has over 50 publications. Both of those companies stopped printing newspapers (Northern Star and Lismore City News), and one was absorbed into its Sydney newspaper.

Being independent means we can reflect the real issues of Lismore, which are not being dictated to by an editor from Sydney or Brisbane. But it does need your help.

Thanks to generous philanthropic support, the first $20,000 raised today will be doubled by matched funding, amplifying each contribution we receive today. Your donations are secure and delivered through PressPatron, a trusted global platform helping to support newsrooms. Click here to donate.

Thank you to John, Lynette, Andre, Doug and Christopher, just a few names who have generously given to help improve the local news and sport that the Lismore App provides each and every day.

LINA Executive Director Claire Stuchbery described these newsrooms as the “green shoots” of an industry in crisis. 

“It’s great to see communities coming out to support their local news providers this week,” said Claire.

“The news industry has been struggling through a period of transition for years now, and even small contributions really help independent newsrooms fill gaps in information for local communities. We can see that role playing out in electorates across the country this week as news organisations that are embedded in communities work to address mis and disinformation and provide clear information about candidates from all sides of politics to help voters make informed choices on Saturday. 

“Many of these news services were started by community-minded individuals who identified ‘news deserts’ in their local areas, which were lacking timely, verified information during emergencies, accountability from local authorities, and a record of events to bring the community together. However, newsrooms need support to ensure communities are provided with high-quality, public interest journalism.” 

LINA’s membership has grown to include newsrooms in all states and territories across Australia, publishing public interest journalism and meeting high editorial standards for fairness, independence, accountability and other requirements of professional news outlets.

Developing sustainable news business models online requires investment and innovation, which is difficult for newsrooms already pushed to the limits trying to produce quality, public interest journalism in a rapid news cycle. 

“Providing quality journalism is a public service—every community needs a news service, just as it needs doctors, teachers and firefighters. But it can be difficult to get people to pay for this,” Claire said. 

“It’s fantastic to see this movement of independent newsrooms band together for this campaign, along with support from the philanthropic community, just as they themselves bring their communities together in an increasingly polarised society.” 

LINA is a not-for-profit industry association supporting a movement of local and independent digital news publishers in Australia. 

Thank you for your continued readership and support.