What we’re looking for

We’re interested in stories with a strong sense of place and a reason to exist.

That might be:

• Features about local issues, communities, subcultures or ideas.
• Profiles of interesting, unconventional, inspiring or quietly brilliant people.
• Essays about life, identity, family, place, culture, nature or change.
• Photo-led stories where the pictures are part of the storytelling, not just decoration.
• Culture writing about art, food, books, music, design, events and the things shaping our region.
• The stories people usually overlook — the strange, fascinating, uncomfortable, beautiful and downright weird.

We’re particularly drawn to stories that ask a good question and actually take the time to explore the answer.

We’re not looking for breaking news, press releases dressed up as journalism, advertorials, generic travel guides or SEO filler.

What we mean by “South West Victoria”

South West Victoria is bigger than a postcode.

We’re interested in the Otways, the coast, the farms, the forests, the towns and the spaces in between — from the main street to the back paddock, the pub to the community hall.

We want stories that are genuinely rooted here.

That means listening to the people who live here. Understanding the history. Doing the research. Not parachuting in, telling a story and disappearing again.

We’re interested in the big forces playing out on a small scale, too — climate, housing, work, family, culture, environment, belonging, change and everything in between.

And we want stories that recognise the First Nations histories, sovereignty and knowledge of the places we report on.

How to pitch

You don’t need a journalism degree. You don’t need a stack of published work.

You might be an experienced journalist, a photographer, a student, a local with a story, or someone who has simply noticed something everyone else seems to be walking past.

What matters is curiosity, care and a willingness to do the work.

We welcome emerging voices and perspectives that don’t always get a seat at the table — particularly when they bring a genuine connection to the region.

For sensitive stories, we care about consent, ethics and the people behind the story. Real life isn’t content, and we don’t treat it that way.

HOW TO PITCH

You don’t need to write the whole story first.

Send us a short pitch that tells us:

• What’s the story?
• Why does it matter?
• Why here?
• Who is involved?
• Why are you the person to tell it?

Include a working title, the type of story you’re proposing and a little about yourself. Links to previous work are welcome, but they’re not essential.

Please don’t send a 3,000-word finished story unless we’ve asked for one. We’d rather hear the idea first.

We’re a small publication, so responses can take a little time. Every pitch is read — even if we can’t publish every story.

Got something worth knowing? Pitch us.