Region Riverina appoints new editor, expands coverage area

Change is afoot at Region Riverina, with Walkley Award finalist Oliver Jacques taking the reins as editor and expanding coverage to take in more of the Riverina.

Founding editor Chris Roe has stepped down from the role to return to his roots with SBS but will maintain his links with the Region Riverina team, delivering his ever-popular Riverina Rewind.

Editorial director Kim Treasure said she was sorry to lose Mr Roe as editor, but understood the lure of a national role that would also allow him to stay in his beloved Wagga.

“Chris has done an amazing job building a devoted audience and strong community networks in Wagga and beyond,” Ms Treasure said.

“In the past year alone, the Riverina team has more than doubled its audience numbers and stories from the region have resonated right across our network. We thank Chris for the incredible work he has done building our brand as a reliable source of free, local news that focuses on the great things happening in our community. Chris has been a force for positive change and community building, two things Region is proud to represent.

“Oliver Jacques has been Chris’ right-hand man throughout the whole process and we think he’s the right person to lead the Riverina team through the next phase of growth, which will include news from the Albury region. Expect to see more great community features from local writers such as Jodie O’Sullivan, Vanessa Hayden, and Marguerite McKinnon.”

Jodie O’Sullivan has been a journalist and editor for more than 30 years and lives on a 32-acre property at Jindera, NSW. She led The Border Mail’s two-time Walkley award-winning campaign for Ending the Suicide Silence.

Vanessa Hayden has also worked as a writer for The Border Mail and other regional newspapers, with her main focus being on writing for and producing Albury-Wodonga’s Out and About magazine.

Marguerite McKinnon is a familiar face to many from her television career but has also worked as a journalist at The Daily Advertiser and is well known in the Wagga community.

The Region Riverina team is also making a move from its current Baylis St office to a new space in the Enterprise Plus Business Hub at 85 Travers St, Wagga. They will operate out of the new office from the start of March.

Mr Roe said it had been “a real privilege” to be part of a new media endeavour in the Riverina that had a positive focus on community.

“I’m grateful to all the amazing locals who have trusted me to tell their story,” he said. “I worked in regional radio in the late 90s when they were cutting all their local programming and I saw firsthand what an impact it had in towns like Griffith, Young and Orange.

“I love the fact that Region is committed to investing in community-building and celebrating the thousands of little stories that form part of the bigger picture. While I’m sad to be leaving, I’m looking forward to opening a little regional office for a national broadcaster and will keep an ear to the ground for Riverina stories that should be amplified through NITV and SBS.”

Mr Jacques said he was excited to be taking the reins at a time when some stories on Region Riverina were attracting up to 40,000 reads.

“People tell me they love how Region provides the only free, comprehensive news coverage of Wagga, Griffith, Leeton, Albury and surrounds – reporting on everything from crime to council to community achievements,” he said.

“There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing an intriguing news headline, clicking on the social media link and getting hit by a paywall that stops you from reading the article. Our stories will never be paywalled, they can be read and shared by everyone. Even subscribing to us and getting daily news feeds is completely free and requires no credit card.

“We’re also connected to an extensive regional network, so news about our Riverina town gets viewed in places like Canberra, Wollongong and the Southern Tablelands. My aim is to positively promote our region, while also holding those in power to account.

“I’ll always be open to receiving news tips and listening to your feedback, so feel free to drop me a line at [email protected].”