Rather than observe the news and information supply chain change around us we have decided to become participants. LocalNews Daily is an online only citizen driven newspaper which will initially focus on the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Our news site is in the final stages of construction and should be in beta release within the next few days.
LocalNews Daily will focus, as the masthead says, on local news. By and for the people. We will not be burdened with advertising our operation as has happened with traditional local newspapers. We’re tired of letterboxes being stuffed with advertising material bulging inside a local newspaper with few stories of genuine local interest.
Access to LocalNews Daily will be free as will be access to submitting stories. Stories submitted will be published immediately. The publishing process will be very simple. In addition to news we will offer free blogs and a free photo gallery to all.
LocalNews Daily will only work if those who read the site and live in our target area actively participate and help us reclaim the local news channel.
Our newsagency is in a shopping mall in Forest Hill (in the middle of our target audience). More than half of our sales come from news and information product. LocalNews Daily takes our consumer connect deeper than these products and into the local space. Until now we have not had involvement with what we would call local news. That’s about to change.
This development places our bricks and mortar business in a new playing field while continuing to provide exceptional service within the traditional supply chain. The experience will better prepare us for bigger changes which will affect our traditional business.
More soon.