The announcement of “up to $1.5million in funding support” from minister Michelle Rowland (pictured) – for which she was applauded – was only part of reason last Friday’s LINA conference was important.

In the 19 months since it was formed, the Local & Independent News Association has welcomed more than 50 digital news publishers representing more than 80 mastheads in all Australian states and territories.

Proudly, it claims a membership that continues to grow “as new digital news outlets populate local news deserts across the country”.

“LINA members represent the green shoots of journalism in Australia,” says executive director Claire Stuchbery. “Our role is to help strengthen public interest journalism, provide capacity building support to small news businesses and generate economies of scale for independent news organisations which have been working largely in isolation to provide relevant news services for their communities.”

The inaugural summit in Sydney was the first opportunity for members to meet face-to-face, joined by stakeholders, policy makers and other media industry partners. Eighty-five delegates representing 54 organisations attended.

A one-and-a-half day programme included sessions on revenue development, training opportunities, and editorial standards.

A highlight was minister Rowland’s address, reflecting on the role of government in a changing media landscape. The Albanese Government’s News Media Assistance Programme (News MAP) and a News Media Measurement Framework are part of a suite of support measures to deliver news services to remote and regional audiences, including a Journalist Fund which will support 56 cadets in regional newsrooms.

Stuchbery said the funding announcement represented a major step forward in supporting public interest journalism that serves communities at a local level, at a time when other news outlets are shrinking or closing down completely.

“Increasingly we’re seeing audiences demonstrate preferences for digital news delivery and a weakening of news business models on a global scale,” she said.

“This funding will help LINA strengthen the sustainability of digital news publishers to deliver news services to the 67 per cent of Australians who want more local news and news services they can trust.”

Conversations at the inaugural LINA Summit were “energising and overwhelmingly positive”, she said, looking forward to working with members in the year ahead.