NewcastleOnHunter is an independent non-profit news magazine for Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, and coast from Hawkesbury to Manning.
Our interest is “grass roots” community issues. We pay special attention to those who would otherwise not find a public voice.
The age of cheap Internet news has arrived and anyone can be a newspaper tycoon. NewcastleOnHunter distinguishes itself with a quality, uncluttered presentation of news and community announcements.
NewcastleOnHunter is about us, the people of Newcastle, the Hunter, and central coastal NSW. We welcome news, announcements, events, photos, and stories from folk like you.
Get in touch, visit the contacts page
News
Preference is news of infrastructure, development, education, art, science, activities, and health.
Of greater preference are community issues broadly termed “protest, interest, announcement, event, concern, safety,” etc.
News is added continually during the day, 7 days a week.
Can you send us news?
Yes please!
Press releases from community groups are given high priority. The smaller your voice in the media, the louder it will be on NewcastleOnHunter.
Article and essay from YOU are most welcome on any aspect of the Hunter’s history, events, people, or places. There is no limit to article length, or form. For example, photographic essays are equally desirable. Copyright and ownership remains yours. You can withdraw articles from this website at any time.
Send to press@newcastleonhunter.com
Can you send us photos?
Yes please!
But first read our Photographer’s Copyright page.
Send to press@newcastleonhunter.com
Does this website pay for news or photos?
No thanks!
Income is zero and outgoings considerable, all paid from the wages of a below-average-earnings citizen. I love pain.
Talk to us or ask a question
Visit the contacts page
About those press/media releases
The average newsroom sees several dozen emails each day pause briefly at the Inbox, undergo evaluation for a tiny opportunity, then pass rapidly to the Deleted Items.
Only in online print media might a story become permanent record, then to the Council Library into the newsprint collection. In either case retrieval is a lot of effort and invokes a fee.
Original "press releases" deemed not newsworthy on the day are never seen again. And you never know that story existed.
Except here, at NewcastleOnHunter.com
Our choice of press releases
Time constraints alone force us to favour social and environmental issues. Business, partisan politics, and personal promotions will probably not pass muster – unless a social or community element predominates. Sorry.
The editor’s preferences are influenced by a desire to represent the most grass-roots level of interest. Politically he attempts neutrality, though personal feelings on issues do surface in subject choices.
NewcastleOnHunter WILL however always attempt to present both sides of an issue – no matter how much we detest your viewpoint :0)
About political party media releases
Editorial is politics-neutral. However, publication choice is influenced by these personal choices:
- Government (federal & state) news releases, State & Federal, are usually published if announcing news of Newcastle and Hunter community interest – but not if grandstanding or of state-wide or federal relevance.
- Opposition (NSW) news releases are mostly ignored [years 2008/2009] due to their snarling and almost abusive language, apparently written for Sydney’s ugly 6pm newstainment television. For now they are beyond the bounds of common decency and professional media standards.
- Minor parties are given high-importance due to their freedom to call a spade a spade, and relative absence of posturing or entrenched factional nonsense, though of course they sport all these features in immature form.
Disclosure
The editor has no political, professional, or business affiliations and is a humble wage earner on less than the national average wage.
The editor respected the national Liberal government of Pig Iron Bob, voted Labour both State and Federal since adulthood, but voted Greens at the most recent State and Local government elections (2008), and Labour at the most recent Federal election (2008).
See also disclaimers in our Disclaimers & Terms of Use
HI I sent you some details re action in Hamilton on Monday 18th Jan in support of Tamil refugees in Merak via email as well as a poster – but here’s Media Release from two activists who’ve been to Merak:
Refugee activists around the world will be holding a vigil on Monday the 18th
January to demand that the Australian Government take responsibility over the 254
Tamil refugees who have been stranded in Merak, Indonesia for the past 100 days.
Australia signed the UN convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This includes
an obligation to “receive refugees in their territories and work in a true spirit of
international cooperation in order that these refugees may find asylum and the
possibility of resettlement.” By Australian Prime Minister personally making a call
to the Indonesian President to stop the refugees from arriving in Australia and
pushing them to Indonesia which has not signed the convention and where they CANNOT
be resettled, Australia has failed in its UN obligations.
For media enquiries in Australia: Sara Nathan + 61 412 236 703 or Ian Rintoul + 61
417 275 713
100 DAYS AND COUNTING…
INTERNATIONAL CALL TO ACTION
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
THE WORLD UNITES TO ABOLISH THE “INDONESIAN SOLUTION”
PUT AN END TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SRI LANKA
STAND BY 254 TAMIL REFUGEES IN MERAK, INDONESIA
Vigil venue and times:
Australia, Sydney: 12:30 – 1:30 PM. Kevin Rudd’s office, 70 Phillip Street
Sydney.
Australia, Newcastle(NSW): 4:30pm. At the Clock Tower, Beaumont St, Hamilton
Australia, Melbourne: 5:30 pm outside the State Library, Cnr Swanston/Latrobe
Streets, Melbourne
New Zealand, Auckland. 4:00 PM. Australian Consulate, 186-194 Quay St, Auckland
Canada, Toronto: 11am – 2pm. Australian Consulate, 175 Bloor Street, EastToronto
UK, London: 4:00 PM. The Australian High Commission, Strand, London WC2B 4LA
USA: Email and postcard campaign
Malaysia: Email and postcard campaign