Hyperlocal News

Hyperlocal News, the independent media company behind Docklands News, Southbank News, CBD News, Inner City News and North West City News, is the only dedicated news provider covering the entirety of the City of Melbourne municipality.

With a suite of print and digital platforms – including community directories and online editions – its team delivers grassroots journalism that’s as tactile as it is timely.

“Even in a world where so much is digitised, people still enjoy the experience of picking up a newspaper and reading it over a morning coffee,” says Hyperlocal News owner, editor and publisher Sean Car. “It’s a bit like a vinyl record or a good novel – the physical experience still matters.”

From letterboxes, apartment lobbies and cafés to supermarkets and community centres, the company’s newspapers are part of the regular rhythm of city life. But while the format may be traditional, the operation is anything but old-fashioned.

Through its websites, social media channels and growing email subscription audiences, Hyperlocal News delivers city coverage across all platforms – meeting readers where they are.

“It’s important to engage with people in the digital spaces they use every day,” Sean says. “However, we also know that when it comes to local news, there’s still a huge appetite for something people can hold in their hands, delivered to their homes. That tactile connection builds a sense of place – and that’s what we’re all about.”

Sean’s passion for community storytelling was sparked early in his career as a journalist with WIN News in Shepparton, where he witnessed the transformative power of local media in regional Victoria.

His perspective is further deepened through his international work as the founder of a humanitarian NGO in Malawi in 2012, where he helped deliver education and healthcare projects, including the construction of a new medical clinic. His efforts have since extended to supporting communities in Uganda.

That philosophy – journalism in service of community – remains central to the Hyperlocal News ethos today.

“We’re not just here to report on a place,” Sean explains. “We’re here to advocate for it. When we tell the stories of people’s lives, local projects, small businesses and grassroots campaigns, we aim to empower communities and get better outcomes through awareness and connection.”

Since taking the reins of Docklands News (first published in 2003), Southbank News and CBD News in 2018, Sean has grown Hyperlocal News into a media network that now includes Inner City News (serving Carlton, East Melbourne and Parkville) and North West City News (covering North and West Melbourne and Kensington). Each paper reflects the unique character of its neighbourhood, offering a tailored mix of hyperlocal reporting, community features, and informative updates on planning, infrastructure and council matters.

Hyperlocal also publishes companion directories in Docklands, Southbank, Carlton and North & West Melbourne – trusted guides for residents and visitors alike that showcase local businesses and services.

What sets the business apart, Sean says, is its deep local knowledge and grassroots engagement: “We love our communities. Whether it’s long-term residents, small businesses, or new arrivals, we understand the stories that matter to them — and we’re here to tell them.”

Celebrating a vital partnership, Sean emphasises the collaboration with the North and West Melbourne Precinct Association to produce the local business directory.

“We’re delighted to team up once more with the North and West Melbourne Precinct Association to create a local directory that beautifully showcases North & West Melbourne’s businesses,” he says. “It’s a fantastic way to draw visitors to the neighbourhood, boosting sales and encouraging patronage of vibrant local shops and services.”

At a time when the media landscape is increasingly centralised and homogenised, Hyperlocal News is proudly independent, proudly Melbourne, and proudly committed to community.

“The power of a local paper is still ever-present,” Sean says. “People still crave connection. They want to read about their neighbourhood, their neighbours, their city. That’s the heart of what we do.” •