Gazette is a startup media company building a growing network of local newsrooms across Australia. We exist to make high quality local news freely available in the formats and on the channels where people already spend their time.
We are proudly independent, and funded by a mix of philanthropy and advertising. We're building a modern, digitally native newsroom – fast, experimental and audience-first, with high editorial standards and a culture built on trust, kindness and autonomy. Our reporters have the space to try new things, take creative risks, and shape the voice of their mastheads.
About the role
About the West Vic Brolga
The West Vic Brolga has so far covered the LGAs of Glenelg, Southern Grampians, Moyne, Corangamite, Colac Otway, Ararat and Pyrenees. We're now adding a second reporter and expanding our coverage to include Golden Plains, Ballarat, Hepburn and Moorabool – giving us full coverage across western Victoria, from the South Australian border through the Grampians to Ballarat and the Central Highlands.
It's a big area, with lots of great stories to tell. You won't run out of interesting people or issues – from small-town characters to big regional questions shaping the future of western Victoria.
As we grow, our reporters are pivotal in shaping a regional voice that is energetic, collaborative and deeply connected to the communities we serve.
All our titles, including The West Vic Brolga, publish:
* free local news, lifestyle and culture coverage
* across email newsletters, social media, video and our websites
* with a focus on practical, useful information, strong local stories and clear, engaging reporting on underreported issues like climate and energy, cost of living, housing, infrastructure and essential services
You can see what it looks like here
The role
We are hiring a second full time reporter to join the West Vic Brolga on a one year contract, with the possibility of extension. You will:
* Find and report local stories that matter, across news, lifestyle and culture
* Cover both day-to-day community issues and public interest stories
* Work across formats, including short explainers, newsletters, social posts and vertical video
* Spend time out in the community, building relationships with locals, businesses, community groups and decision makers
* Collaborate closely with our editorial and audience teams to shape coverage and grow our reachEdit and produce your own short videos, with training and support from the team
* Help shape the editorial voice and direction of a young and growing masthead
* Experiment with new formats and ideas – we value creativity, initiative and trying new things
Who you are
You:
* Live in or be willing to relocate to one of these LGAs: Glenelg, Southern Grampians, Moyne, Corangamite, Colac Otway, Ararat, Pyrenees, Golden Plains, Ballarat, Hepburn or Moorabool
* Have a feel for the local culture, politics, economy and everyday life in western Victoria
* Are curious, reliable and organised, and comfortable juggling multiple stories at once
* Are excited about video and digital storytelling, and confident you can learn editing and production with support
* Are comfortable talking to people from all walks of life, and excited about telling their stories
* Care about making complex issues understandable, delightful, and useful for local audiences
* Are energised by building something new – and enjoy working in a small, supportive team where ideas can turn into stories fast
Journalism experience is a big plus, but not essential if you can show strong writing, storytelling or content creation skills as well as deep local knowledge.
What we offer
* A full time role for one year (and possibility of extension), with competitive salary, aligned with experience
* Best-in‑class training and support on traditional reporting, alongside video and digital storytelling, from industry leaders and veterans with a track record of success
* An ambitious team that values feedback, experimentation and learning
* A genuinely supportive culture – low ego, high trust, collaborative and kind
* The chance to help define what local news can look like in 2026 and beyond.
* You can be based anywhere within the LGAs listed above. The role will include some travel within the region.
How to apply
Please submit your resume and any links to your work (this can include published stories, social accounts, newsletters, video or other creative work) to
We'd also like you to answer these questions:
1. Do you live in the region we cover, or are you willing to relocate? Do you have a connection to the area?
2. How do you feel about working across multiple formats and channels, including newsletters and social?
3. How do you feel about skilling up on video, from ideation and scripting, to getting on camera, to editing?
We will review applications as they come in.
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