Opinion & Perspectives
7 July, 2026
50 editions chronicling the stories that matter to you
LOCAL journalism is the heart and soul of newspapers in rural communities where we share the journey, partner in the aspirations and celebrate your achievements.
LOCAL journalism is the heart and soul of newspapers in rural communities where we share the journey, partner in the aspirations and celebrate your achievements.
We are prepared to ask the questions of councils and governments.
Getting answers, rather than just responses, is an everyday challenge in the 21st century where bureaucracy can inhibit and straight talkers are a scarce commodity.
Connected local journalism is one of the great pillars of a genuine democracy where there is scrutiny, accountability and recording the decisions that impact and influence local people and communities.
Our readers will have noticed many changes to the content and style of NCN Herald since the change of ownership 12 months ago, evolution of a proud newspaper serving the communities of St Arnaud and Charlton and surrounding districts for more than 160 years.
Changes have gone beyond the masthead: North Central News has rebadged as NCN Herald, once more incorporating the St Arnaud Mercury and Charlton Tribune.
Changes in newspaper layout include a contemporary style, making it easier and more accessible for readers to find the stories - your stories - and those about people they know, seeing their photos and reading their names.
There has been an investment in journalistic content, as a newspaper is far more than a community newsletter.
It is an organ of record that can make governments sit up (and perhaps take notice), it is the chronicle of today that will assist future historians in their research.
NCN Herald has increased the average number of stories, local stories, in the newspaper each week.
We have expanded our coverage of sport that is the heartbeat of our communities.
We are publishing more print editions in a 12-month period and have seen growth in circulation and engagement both for the weekly edition and online where breaking news is reported on social platforms to keep our communities informed and safe.
Each week, we now aim to have a minimum of 20 pages in print form, which is the way 75 per cent of country Australians told a Deakin University study they want to access their local news.
Our NCN Herald editor Alex Gretgrix may not be in the office every day.
That’s because good local journalism means being out in the communities gathering stories and taking photographs.
From your feedback, we know you appreciate it when NCN is at your event or function.
We also appreciate the support of advertisers over our first year as owners and publishers of NCN Herald.
Advertising is vital to continuing to grow your local newspaper and allows us to invest in the public interest journalism that is essential to the newspaper’s content.
There have been some rapid changes – some more smoothly than others – since last July.
Each change has been guided by the desire to have a vibrant and sustainable local newspaper—your newspaper.
So to our communities of St Arnaud, Charlton and districts, thanks for sharing the last 50 editions of your NCN Herald with us.
We look forward to continuing to advance good local journalism to a standard equal to any in regional Victoria through a quality newspaper that is your voice.
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