Youth:    Kalamunda Community Matters Newspaper
 
               
 
The Kalamunda Community Matters Newspaper is the first Lead On community project of Kalamunda Lead On organisation. It provides an enterprise opportunity for young people interested in the management, production and distribution of a newspaper to become involved. Unlike any other medium, a community newspaper has a unique relationship with readers, local businesses and the community.

The objectives of The Kalamunda Community Matters are threefold –

  • to create an opportunity for young people to develop knowledge, skills and experiences within fields associated with media and management of a small business – journalism, editing, web design, advertising, accounting, photography, etc;
  • to provide the community of Kalamunda with its own local exclusive newspaper that focuses upon the unique features, happenings and strengths of the Kalamunda Shire; and
  • to enable young people with a media medium to express their perspectives on issues of concern to them.
 
 
The Kalamunda Community Matters builds upon the success of Loop in five other Lead On communities in Australia. For example, in Bendigo, Victoria Loop is a youth newspaper supplement entirely written, edited and designed by young people. In the words of the Project Coordinator – ‘Loop is the most wonderful opportunity for young people and a real asset to our community. There are so many skills that a person can develop and enhance from Loop involvement. From writing and editing skills, design techniques, time management (deadlines for the paper are very strict), general communication skills, taking on and managing varying degrees of responsibility, learning to cooperate with others to achieve results, as well as being able to act independently and decisively when required and consistently showing ongoing improvements in confidence levels’.

The Kalamunda Community Matters is a bi-monthly 16 page tabloid newspaper, distributed free to 20,000 Kalamunda homes. It is not a specific ‘youth paper’, but one that bridges generations through a focus on information and issues of interest to all sections of the community, and celebrates the community diversity and lifestyle within the Shire of Kalamunda. However, it certainly provides an opportunities for young people to express their perspectives on issues of concern to them.

The newspaper operates from a central location within the Kalamunda town site – Mead mall, 1/14 Mead St, Kalamunda WA. This is a location that will enable easy access by young people and space for newspaper production and team training.

 The C.R.E.A.T.E. Initiative is providing support for all the establishment functions, currently applications are being submitted for funding support, especially to secure necessary equipment, while the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. through its Community Youth Development Fund is helping with initial costs.

Recruitment of youth and mentor participants is underway. Launch of edition 1 of The Kalamunda Community Matters is planned for 1st August 2006.

 
 
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