Susanna Freymark
Two years ago, I started IndyNR.com with sub editor Michael Burlace assisting in this digital adventure.
IndyNR.com began after the Express Examiner and then the Richmond River Independent had folded.
I still miss the feel of a newspaper in my hands – but fortunately I don’t have to miss the news – local news from Richmond Valley, Kyogle and areas nearby.
IndyNR.com grew from the two of us anxiously assembling the website as fast as we could on launch day to an audience of 8000 in the first month.
And then from those few thousand readers the numbers grew to a height of 45,000 readers during the floods – digital news was and is the way to go.
The name IndyNR.com came from The Independent with NR added to cover Northern Rivers.
People wanted free local news and here it was in their hand on mobile, on their tablets on the couch while they watched television or on their desktop computer.
During last year’s floods, reader numbers grew to 45,000 a month. As well as keeping locals informed through hundreds of stories, there was a lot of outside interest in how the area was coping with the flood disaster.
Online news meant we could respond quickly to flood updates. Being focussed on local means that today we continue to advocate for flood recovery on a local level.
We have tab on the website that features all the flood stories. And if you want to see the film IndyNR.com made about the floods, you can watch Tinnie Heroes here.
In my rounds of Richmond Valley and Kyogle events I hear people say “I saw it on the Indy” or have a look at the story on IndyNR.com
In its 25th month, IndyNR.com sits comfortably at 20,000–25,000 readers each month. The page views are high – between 60,000–70,000 each month. That’s a lot of reading. That’s a lot of news stories.
We have published almost 2500 stories so far. Stories about you and where you live.
We have sections for easy reading – Lifestyle with humour, recipes, quizzes; What’s On; Stories about the Arts, Environment and Farming; Sports, Funerals, Tributes and news about Kyogle Council and Richmond Valley Council.
Is there a section you’d like to see on the website? Let us know by emailing indynr.com@gmail.com
Regular contributors John James Maloney (quiz), Bullgoose (column) and Debbie Reid (recipes) are much appreciated.
As are photographers who have contributed work – JW Media, Daniel Cohen, Daniel Keogh and Hollie Mariconte. Thank you to all the readers who have shared their photos and stories.
It is clear from the numbers that people want local news. Our aim is to make the news free and accessible to everyone.
How do we get money to do that? Advertisers. Without them we can’t bring you that much local news.
Because advertisers support us, we support them through getting more eyes on their business through IndyNR.com and our Indy Facebook page.
We’d like to take a moment to thank each of them.
They are:
Atkinsons Removals
Bonalbo Australia Day Committee
Bonalbo Bowling Club
Bonalbo Dog Fest
Boolangle Land Council
Casino Beef Week
Casino Christian School
Casino Golf Club
Casino Lions Farmers Market
Casino RSM Club
Casino School of Arts
Casino Truck Show
Cassino Art Gallery
Central Vet Clinic
Commercial Hotel Casino
Community Carers
Corey Sullivan Excavations
Essential Energy
Evans Head Bowling Club
Evans Head Business School
First National Casino
Geogen Pty Ltd
GHD Bentley Quarry
HART
Janelle Saffin
Kevin Hogan
Kyogle Business Chamber
Kyogle Council
Kyogle Lions Club
Kyogle Show
Kyogle Together
Kyogle Writers Festival
Leeville School
Mallanganee Progress Association
McAuliffe Dance Studios
Momentum Collective
North East Waste
Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation
NRCF
NSW Government
Politics in the Pub
Primex
Richmond Valley Council
Rotary Kyogle Bazaar
SEC Newgate Water NSW
Sommerville Funeral Home
Southview Orchard
Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival
Sydney Hotshots
Village Hall Players
Watling & Bates
Westpac Rescue Helicopter
Plus, we had many election ads from candidates running in council, state and Federal elections.
We share our news stories on our Facebook page, Twitter (X) and we share photos on Instagram. Follow us to keep up to date with local news.
If you know someone who hasn’t found IndyNR.com yet, let them know where to go to get their free, local news.
And here’s how you can advertise to support local, independent media and we can support you through the reach to our audience.
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