“The rise of the local news source can be directly attributed to local people having their voices taken away…”
About a year ago, I started a new job, a different direction, a government job.
My previous background was in consulting, I’d come into a business, interview people and formulate a plan to help them make the most of what they already had; In short, I’d charge them a lot of money to tell them what they already knew in big words and with fancy presentations.
My new role has me sitting in a position of the customer. I manage a number of people and projects, and I listen to consultants who are telling me what I already know with fancy presentations and hefty invoices……
None of this was surprising to me, but what did come as a shock was the mental shift that came with the new role. My ability to influence the outcome was no longer the dependency for my being able to pay my bills each month and slowly the light came on in my head…… I had the ability to build something good from start to finish and know that it was what we not only wanted, but actually needed.
The same could be said for the ability to get a message across in a community; The rise of the local news source can be directly attributed to local people having their voices taken away when regional newspapers and other mass media are being bought out and amalgamated and eventually closed down by large national and international companies driven by advertising revenue rather than telling the stories.
The power of Greenfields is that you have a new power, you have the ability to be an influencer, to tell your story in a fresh environment. If you choose to ignore that newly found power, then the voice you could have had is as silent as the mountains on a winter’s morning.
You have inspired me Jambo… count me in.
The region already has an independent, locally owned and professional newspaper in The Monaro Post. Has had for the last 14 years. Owned by locals, employing professional journalists (not jernos), graphics staff and sales people, The Post has been serving the Snowy Monaro community faithfully and well, even during COVID- 19 lockdowns when the newspaper kept printing, despite all odds, to keep our community informed.
It’s a good read. It’s reliable and professional.
I think it’s great that there is a different form of media created for the Monaro. Media should not be a monopolised environment, which is where I believe we are at the moment in our fantastic region. Having another organisation that has an understanding of digital services might help evolve the Snowy into the 21st Century !