The Westsider Newspaper

The Westsider, a monthly community newspaper, operates as a not-for-profit entity under the banner of Inner West Community Media Incorporated, functioning successfully within a community partnership funding framework with assistance from Local Impact.

As a 100% independent publication, we serve as a dedicated platform for community journalism and the inclusion of public submissions. Our mission is to be an accessible, relevant advocate for the people, places, organisations and activities of Melbourne’s inner west. We seek to nurture a cycle of awareness, engagement, interaction and participation within the local community.

Founded in 2014, with seed funding from community media entrepreneur Joel Cohen, the Westsider provided upskilling for long-term unemployed people while fostering valuable social networks.

Today, the paper continues to advocate for the people, places, stories, and events that collectively define our unique and diverse community.

Under our ‘new’ Editor, Barbara Heggen, we’ve expanded our networks, welcomed new writers, and enriched our content. With professional journalists volunteering and interns from the University of Melbourne and RMIT, we’ve grown significantly.

We have a whole group of invested writers who are delightful and give the team so much joy.

Highlights of the year include recording our WillyLitFest panel for Radio National, creating Westsider FM after receiving a grant, and introducing our new website. We also ran our first donation campaign through the Local Independent News Association.

If we continue to be the trusted voice of the community, volunteers will come and join us and trust us to publish their stories.