As a result of continued disillusionment with local media, many residents of Cootamundra have continued to make contact with Twin Town Times staff over recent weeks to discuss the viability of a new newspaper in the Cootamundra area.
   The Twin Town Times has advocated on behalf of independent newspapers in country towns since its inception in January 2014.
   Editor and Owner Matthew Stadtmiller said, “The residents of the surrounding towns have started to notice the work we are doing in Harden at the Twin Town Times. We took 200 newspapers to the Cootamundra Newsagency on December 24 and they sold out. We did it to provide the residents of Coota with important information regarding the amalgamations, which they were unable to obtain through their traditional print product. We believe that we had an obligation to do this. We also left a copy on the doorsteps of many of the businesses in the main street.
   “We have usually sent 20 papers each week to Cootamundra, but that has since jumped to 40. We have also been contacted by several community organisations in Coota who have expressed an unwillingness to contribute information to the town’s current media outlets.
   We have proven that you can start a newspaper and make it work. We have just celebrated 100 editions and our Shire has half the population of Cootamundra Shire.
   “It’s up to the business community in Coota to support a new newspaper with advertisements both in print and on the web. Then it is up to the residents to tell that paper what they want covered, purchase it each week and assist with leads, story ideas and photographs.
   The way a local newspaper is structured shouldn’t be dictated to residents by a large company.
“The people of Coota could definitely make this work. Harden and Coota are very similar in that they are proud country towns full of motivated residents who care for their community.
Local people need to be a part of a local newspaper and it needs to work for them. Both businesses and the readership need to achieve their goals of growing their business, and informing readers and residents.
“If that’s not happening, it’s time to think outside the square.”