North Coast Times, a new digital news service covering the 13 local government areas of the NSW North Coast, is being officially launched today as sister masthead New England Times celebrates its third birthday.
Based in Armidale, New England Times was established as a social good enterprise to provide independent, paywall free, public interest journalism to the New England, for the benefit of the community and not for profit.
Now, that model is expanding east.
North Coast Times will serve communities from the Great Lakes and the Mid North Coast in the south through to the Northern Rivers and Tweed in the north. Initially there will be a strong focus on the central part of the coast around Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Grafton, which were identified as the most in need of a paywall-free quality news service. The coverage area is home to more than 650,000 people.
Publisher Raphaella Kathryn Crosby said their experience in the New England had shown both the hunger for quality regional journalism and the challenge of shifting long-held habits around news consumption.
“We have seen in the past three years in the New England that it takes a long time for people to adjust to the idea that they can just click the link and read the news on our site.
“People have become so indoctrinated that news is behind a paywall, that they don’t even try to find out the full story. That’s not good for our communities and not good for our democracy.”
She said the publication’s editorial approach had always been intentionally different.
“What we do is not like a major metro outlet, and it’s not a typical local newspaper either.
“We try and cover the important issues from a regional perspective, and provide an opportunity for connection and sharing between the communities in our region.
“So, there’s a lot of what’s on information, right next to a big deep investigation on say housing shortages or political analysis.
“We also have an opinion and comment hub called Engage so locals can have their say. It’s a unique mix but it’s working for us.”
After just one year as a daily service, New England Times received a Walkley Meta Grant that helped establish its investigations unit. The exclusive stories uncovered from a crisis at the merged Armidale Secondary College, to significant voting irregularities in the 2024 local government elections, and the shocking state of local roads or lack of doctors, have been picked up by major national media outlets including the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, and The Guardian, and has contributed to tangible change across the region.
Ms Crosby said the new masthead would build on the strong foundations and what has been learned in developing New England Times to be the most-read commercial news outlet in the region.
“Our goal is to bring the same dedication to real news – including investigations and features – that we have been able to deliver in the New England to the North Coast,” she said.
“There are a lot of cross overs and connections between the New England and North Coast – not least of which is that we all feel the pain when roads like Waterfall Way are closed. But they’re also very different communities, with different priorities and issues.”
“We already have some great local journos on the North Coast team and will be looking to add more freelancers up and down the coast as we grow.
Both mastheads will be celebrating with giveaways and advertising offers. “We are nothing without the great support of our readers and advertisers, so on behalf of the team, I’d like to thank the New England for supporting us and the North Coast for the warm welcome we have already received.”
North Coast Times is new! Connect with us by sending press releases to newsdesk@nctimes.com.au or enquire about advertising with us by emailing ads@nctimes.com.au.