Celebrating the 100th edition of a local newspaper is a significant milestone these days. In an era dominated by digital media, the survival of a free local paper depends on a deep connection with the community to provide engaging stories and support from the local business community. The Bellingen Shire News is fortunate enough to have both of those, plus the shire is full of interesting stories, characters and events to report on. Publisher Brad McCosker explains how it all began
How it all began
By publisher
Brad McCosker
I arrived in the Bellingen Shire from Sydney in 1990 to start a media career in radio and television with 2 Triple B Fm, 2CHY Fm Coffs, 2CS Fm Coffs and Prime TV creating commercials as a director script writer. I then ventured into print and put in 16 years as Advertising and Features manager with the historic Bellingen Shire Courier Sun (1886-2020) newspaper. This position rounded off my media career, and I fell in love with print newspapers and the local community. What an incredible opportunity and era that was- words can’t describe the great times and events. The paper was owned by Fairfax in its final 10 years before the digital media age arrived, and our local newspaper was gone.
I came to the Bellingen Valley because it reminded me of the natural beauty that I had experienced travelling the world, which included driving overland from London and Sydney. Bellingen was the place for me, a mix of the wildness and the tamed, so leaving the shire was not an option.
It was not long before I felt the desire for the return of a local newspaper, and I was not the only one. Locals from across the shire were telling me they felt the same desire, which inspired the launch of the Bellingen Shire News newspaper, website and Facebook page in November 2021. My own research suggested that the idea would work with a free paper and home delivery, so I invested in it, obtained support from the business community and here we are at 100th edition.
I am proud to say that we have built an experienced, professional, and local media crew to roll out the news and distribute free papers every fortnight. My gratitude and appreciation goes out to our valuable team- Graphic designer Traci Braithwaite, journalist Michael Burt and the wonderful distribution manager Judith Anderson, who delivers the newspaper to pickup points across the shire and to homes in Bellingen and Urunga.
A hard copy newspaper isn’t cheap to produce and distribute these days. However, the feedback received is that a locally based professional news service is needed to keep us connected, and that empowers the inspiration to make it happen each fortnight. Advertising is critical, and I appreciate the tremendous support that the business community provides.
Our job here at the Bellingen Shire News is to report the news, entertainment, sport, attractions and events, promote local enterprise and connect with local government and support the free flow of information. We enjoy creating reporting and producing our paper and offer everyone a place to have their say or submit a story. Your opinion is welcome via letters to the editor by email or online submission at bellingenshirenews.com.au
I am extremely grateful for the huge network of connections and great people I have met in my 35 years here in the shire. I love all of the characters that make up this place and there are always plenty of engaging stories to tell and events to promote. The Bellingen Shire is a mixture of everything life has to offer- there is simply no better place in my mind.
I have learned so many practical ideas and gained so much experience from so many wise minds. The richness in the nature of the people is outstanding, along with a dose of good humour and country grit especially across our valleys and the plateau. Our coast is wild and beautiful, and our rivers are clean.
I know from my travels around the shire how deeply folks care about quality of life and preserving what is here. More than ever the pressure is on us and the land with increased development, it’s such a desirable place. We chose well but need to oversee and wisely manage the growth.