Letter from the Editor: Farewell 2023, you were a rollercoaster ride

2023 was the year when everything was supposed to get back to normal: ebbing pandemic effects, no election dramas or natural disasters.

And yes, all that happened. But so did several wars, the Voice referendum, floods and fires and all manner of other disturbing or difficult issues.

For Region, it was an extraordinary year: we’ve expanded to the Illawarra and Cape York, strengthened our Region Riverina, Region China and About Regional offerings and solidified our Public Sector and Defence coverage.

We’ve continued to employ staff and invest in local journalists in each community where we work. Our priority is always our people.

In March, we were delighted and astonished to win a national Telstra business award for building communities, what we do best.

Our team cooked for Ronald McDonald House, walked for Menslink and sorted clothes for Vinnies. We abseiled down buildings for the Canberra Hospital Foundation, helped place pets for the RSPCA and chose charities for the inaugural Thoroughbred Park community chest.

And we attended more fundraising lunches and dinners and events for Hands Across Canberra and dozens of other great Canberra charities, like Karinya House.

We were also national finalists in the Mumbrella media brand of the year awards, a major step forward for our news and commercial offerings in a very challenging media landscape.

Our average audience grew to more than 700,000 unique readers per month across our platforms, with no plans for a subscription or paywall to get between readers and the local news.

Our business team serviced close to 300 clients, from some of Canberra’s biggest operators to suburban family businesses who trusted our reach and our deep community foundations. That support from Canberra and the regional community pays our bills, not subsidies from government or distant owners.

This was a year with some real darkness: the referendum debate turned in to a divisive and painful public argument that hurt many on both sides before being lost, resoundingly, everywhere except Canberra.

That doesn’t mean the reconciliation conversation is over: in 2023 Region also launched our innovate level Reconciliation Action Plan, on par with the nation’s other leading media organisations.

In 2024, we face another Territory election, approaching a quarter century of Labor government in Canberra, lately in coalition with the Greens under Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury respectively.

The Canberra Liberals under Elizabeth Lee’s leadership appear to be giving it their best shot for many years, ditching the hard right and coalescing around a moderate leader.

There are plenty of questions for the Territory government to answer, ranging from the cost of expanding light rail to the endless difficulties around emergency ward waiting times, school results and that perpetual Canberra favourite, planning.

At this stage there’s no real indication on answers from the Opposition and the Greens’ capacity to retain six seats in the Assembly remains an open question.

Region will cover Canberra’s major stories throughout the election campaign, bringing you the developments in what might well be one of the most challenging local elections in years.

In 2024, Region will continue to serve Canberra and the wider community with free, balanced, local news, brought to you by journalists who live and work in the communities they serve.

Our commitment to local charities and sporting organisations continues and at heart, that’s a commitment to all of you too.

Welcome to 2024, may it be a prosperous and peaceful one for all of us.