When Carol Altmann returned to her home town 2013, she chose to start her own, independent publication.

It was a decision that saw her ostracised, sparked five separate legal threats and built a new community of campaigners to save the local aged care home.

Carol is an independent journalist, writer and author.

She's the former publisher of The Terrier

The people fighting for recognition of local journalists, and for more support from the government.

Claire Stuchbery is the Executive Director of the Local and Independent News Association.

You can check out their Members Directory here

Why not check out the Western Echo or the Greek Herald: who know what you'll find?

From three monthly newspapers to a five-title, digital publishing behemoth.

Sean Car is the Director of HyperLocal News in inner Melbourne.

You can view all five of the titles online:

Breaking a vertical monopoly of Murdoch newspapers in Brisbane's West End wasn't enough.

Kerrod Trott is the Publisher of the

You can also see his other online publication, the

How is the Australian local media sector adapting to a rapidly growing and shifting online world?

Gary Dickson is the Head of Research at Public Interest Journalism Initiative, and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Media Transition at UTS.

You can view the analysis from PIJI at