After a year of writing civics stories for The Bugle, I’ve made the decision to step away to give myself space to recover and focus on a long-planned research project. Writing about local democracy in a small regional paper demands deep research, stamina, and a willingness to navigate complex power dynamics, especially when the paper is privately owned and the local council holds significant influence.
You do the work. You check the facts, read the reports, ask the right questions. You approach Council for comment and give them the opportunity to respond. You publish with care. But when Council doesn’t like what’s published, pressure follows.
In my case, formal complaints were lodged. Demands were made to take stories down. You even get reported to the Australian Press Council and wait up to 12 months to see whether you’ll receive a big slap on the wrist. Eventually, the Press Council came back with “Nothing to see here,” but that doesn’t stop Kiama Council. The longer you try to hold the line, the more isolated you become. Eventually, you realise the personal cost of staying in that position is too high.
It is my understanding that these tactics fall under what legal experts describe as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPP suits.
These are civil claims aimed at silencing people who speak out on matters of public interest by draining their time, money, and emotional resources through intimidation and legal pressure.
So now is the time is right to step back and go deeper. I’ve been developing a research project for several years that explores how community media, advocacy groups and local networks can work together to strengthen public decision-making. The ideas are already taking root around us, and I want to give them the attention they deserve.
What gives me hope is the groundswell of local groups stepping up to do democracy differently. Across the region, people are coming together with a shared purpose: to build a fairer, more transparent, more collaborative community. They’re generous with their time, clear in their values, and focused on outcomes that serve all of us.
That’s where my energy is going now, supporting this broader movement and continuing the work of community advocacy in new ways.
Want to know what it’s really like to report on local democracy from the inside?
Explore my Behind the Byline series, a candid look at the highs, lows and hard calls of writing civics stories in a small regional town.
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