The 2025 LINA Summit promises to be an enriching multi-day event bringing publishers and stakeholders together in Melbourne.
Offering a blend of professional development and networking, this gathering is designed to foster connections among LINA members, allowing for the exchange of stories and strategies in a collaborative atmosphere. LINA is excited to make the most of this time to equip members with innovative skills and actionable insights that you can apply within your newsrooms. Engage in hands-on workshops and join the dialogue on policy evolution in the realm of public interest journalism—your perspectives are, as always, invaluable.
The event format is:
Wednesday 2nd April (daytime) - Pre-Summit Workshop Intensives (3 options)
Wednesday 2nd April (evening) - Welcome event / Westsider Radio launch
Thursday 3rd April - Full day conference program
Friday 4th April - Full day conference program
SEE AGENDA BELOW
Presented by the Local & Independent News Association, with our local partner The Westsider
Agenda
Wednesday, April 2
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Spend the day focused on developing your advertising revenue and learn from our expert partners at Broadstreet Ads who will be joining us from the US for this workshop day.
LIMITED PLACES
LINA member publishers are invited to participate in a two-part workshop informing research, partnerships and policy-making on how local and independent news publishers can move the news industry forward.
Expand your audience reach and engagement through multimedia content delivery that won't break your budget or suck all your time. Meet your current and potential audience where they're at.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Join us at Kindred Bandroom in Footscray to kick off the Summit and meet the news publishers and stakeholders you'll be spending the next couple of days with over some casual drinks and food.
Thursday, April 3
8:15 AM - 8:55 AM
8:15 AM - 8:55 AM
Registration & Coffee
Grab your lanyard, your conference swag and a coffee and settle in.
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
9:15 AM - 9:35 AM
9:15 AM - 9:35 AM
The words news and journalism are often used interechangeably, but they're not the same. Jodie Hopperton joins us from the International News Media Association (INMA) to explore this idea and the role of local news in the information economy.
9:35 AM - 10:05 AM
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
MORNING TEA break
10:45 AM - 11:40 AM
10:45 AM - 11:40 AM
Exploring the impact of independent news and how to explain it in discussion with Melissa Sweet (Croakey Health Media), Anthony Klan (The Klaxon) and Margy Vary (The Conversation).
First there was you, then there were some freelancers, now you have some staff and you're looking around at who might replace you. This session explores developing leadership skills for small teams and succession planning for the future.
Elizabeth Paton (Everymind / Mindframe) discusses best practice approaches to reporting on mental health and issues of sensitivity. Hear from Chloe Sargeant (Star Observer) on language relating to LGBTIQ+ communities.
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Do you know what your audience wants? How? Troy Dodds (Western Weekender), Melanie Grevis-James (Western Echo) and Peri Strathearn (Murray Bridge News) share some innovative ways to understand your audience and strengthen your community connections.
A panel discussion on how to navigate tricky situations that cross the news desk, sidestep complaints and how to manage them if they do occur. A discussion of best practice editorial policies and what to do when they get tested.
Establishing good workplace culture and tips on how to manage employees, freelancers and contractors efficiently - without swallowing all your time!
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
LUNCH break
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Get inspired by some out-of-the-box revenue ideas from Vahe Arabian (State of Digital Publishing), Benjamin Erin (8CCC) and James Spinks (Interplay Media).
Making sure you're on the right side of the law when it comes to issues of copyright and defamation and best practice to avoid problems with either.
Increasingly, publishers need to build direct relationships with audiences. This session will workshop how to do that and increase your newsletter reach with Ricky Sutton (Future Media).
2:05 PM - 2:55 PM
2:05 PM - 2:55 PM
Join James Blackwell (Croakey Health Media), Georgina Harrison (Amplify) and Andrew Jaspan (360Info) to talk about how news can spark discussions of important topics in our communities with care, nuance and facts.
Level up your media kit (or create one) in this hands-on workshop designed to increase your advertising sales.
The relationship between big tech platforms and news publishing has been a contested space for years now as an unavoidable trading partner for news outlets. How should LINA respond?
2:55 PM - 3:15 PM
2:55 PM - 3:15 PM
AFTERNOON TEA | Break
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Aggy Renaudin & Jamie Jasen (Newsport) share their learnings on developing a revenue stream from listings. Get the step-by-step on how to introduce or grow their revenue stream for your publication.
Conrad Browne (Vision Australia Radio) shares best practice advice on how to make your news services accessible to people with vision impairment.
An opportunity to share your views and challenges relating to different policy discussions impacting the news industry.
4:05 PM - 5:00 PM
4:05 PM - 5:00 PM
Discuss common issues for journalists with Amrita Sidhu (Medianet) and researcher Caroline James-Garrod (Centre for Advancing Journalism). Then learn how to sidestep them with Eva Wright (Nurture HR) and Genevieve Swart (Illawarra Flame).
Get the elevator pitch on some inspiring ideas and learnings with this publishers show n tell session.
Hear how news publishers are producing news in both English and other languages with Chris Gogos (Neos Kosmos) and Eduardo Jordan (4EB), facilitated by Esra Dogramaci.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Social Hour
Want to keep chatting? Join us for a drink and find some friends for dinner. Venue details announced soon.
Friday, April 4
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Table talks session across six different discussion topics.
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Sam Holthouse from the ACMA provides an update on the News Media Measurement Framework.
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
MORNING TEA | Break
10:45 AM - 11:40 AM
10:45 AM - 11:40 AM
Learn about best practices for search discoverability from Lais Santos (Google).
Newsrooms are increasingly undertaking the role of educating audiences on how to identify verified information and fact-based reporting. This session explores how we draw on audience trust to mythbust and substantiate.
PARTICIPATING NEWSROOMS ONLY SESSION
Tammy Schlitz (Balanced Effect) talks newsrooms taking part in the 2025 Our News, Your Voice fundraising campaign through preparation and execution three weeks out for this year's giving week.
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
As newsrooms engage AI tools in your work, it's important to have policies and processes in place that support transparency, maintain audience trust and help integrate useful tools in your workflows. This session explores matters to consider when using AI
Is this true? One of the main things audiences want from news services is substantiating information. This session will explore how small and large newsrooms can better serve audiences and build trust.
Learn how to grow your revenue streams through audio, visual and digital platforms with Vanessa Robb (Mercato), Jonas Jaanimagi (IAB Australia) and Angela Priestley (Women's Agenda).
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
LUNCH | Break
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Jodie Hopperton (INMA) shares insights on how newsrooms are using AI around the world for both operations and content-making. Learn what's happening now and what's coming down the line and hear from publishers on how AI tools are helping their newsrooms.
Using the upcoming election as an example, this session will talk through best practices to help audiences make sense of news stories through well-prepared explainers.
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Learn how to tell your own story and promote your newsroom with confidence. This workshop covers branding, design, tools and strategies to build brand awareness in your community with Jenn Donovan, host of the Small Business Made Simple podcast.
2:05 PM - 2:55 PM
2:05 PM - 2:55 PM
Navigating a health tension between local councils and newsrooms can be complex. Hear how some newsrooms are making it work productively with good outcomes for their communities.
Publishers in the 2025 Revenue Growth Program cohort join with Jenni Ryall (Bastion Agency) to share their progress on the revenue growth projects they're working on right now.
Miguel Loor (Sembra Media) shares insights from news businesses in South and North America and Europe and business models and income streams that are working in other jurisdictions.
2:55 PM - 3:15 PM
2:55 PM - 3:15 PM
AFTERNOON TEA | Break
3:15 PM - 3:50 PM
3:15 PM - 3:50 PM
Pick a table and join a small group discussion on a topic of your choice: emergency reporting, data mapping & research, content sharing, solopreneurs, newsroom starter kit, creating and advisory group, news apps, large newsrooms and more...
3:50 PM - 4:00 PM
3:50 PM - 4:00 PM
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
On the affirmative side:
David Abrahams (Central Coast News), Mary Jo Fortuna (Waranga News) & Alan Whykes (Tasmanian Times)
Arguing against:
Lechelle Earl (SE Voice), Simon Holt (My City Media) and Jim Plouffe (Solstice Media)
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Social Hour
Not done yet? Join the LINA team and other publishers for a debrief at the bar.
Venue details coming soon.
