The closure of local newspapers has meant Aussie residents now facing floods are turning to Facebook community groups as their primary source of information.
Last year, Lismore’s local newspaper Northern Star stopped being printed, and now, as the floods continue to surge in the area, residents are sourcing unverified information from each other via local community Facebook groups.
The Northern Star was a 160-year old newspaper owned by NewsCorp that met its end during the peak of COVID-19 cuts that saw plenty of local papers face the chopping block. Of course, it wasn’t the only paper that got axed, The Tweed Daily, Ballina Shire Advocate and The Byron Shire all got cut, and now all of these areas are in the midst of mass flooding.
Lived in Lismore during the 2017 #Lismoreflood and reported for the Northern Star. At dawn today messaging friends there, one said she and her brother were standing on their verandah nearly 3m off the ground, waist high in water waiting for the #SES. Devastated for the community.
— AliAprhys (Paterson) (@Alisurfer) February 28, 2022
Previously, when floods occurred, local newspapers covered the events and provided sourced and accurate information and updates. Now, residents are mostly relying on each other. Naturally, residents are doing their best to support each other and share information like road closure updates, but it’s all word of mouth, and the information isn’t verified or sourced.
There are reporters in flood-impacted areas covering what’s going on, but most towns that are being flooded don’t have a slew of local reporters to call on anymore.
This means people are looking to local groups for help and information.
One thing is for sure, B&T would hate to be admin of a local community group page right now.
