FAQ

Q: What is Region Media?

The Riotact was established in late 2000 as an open journalism project focused on the ACT. In 2016, it was acquired by the Region Media Group, with the intention of creating a vigorous, independent and wholly local digital news site. Region Media owns and operates all our news and social media sites.

We’ve since expanded to include About Regional, focusing on news, views and features from South East NSW and the South West Slopes, Region Riverina and Region Illawarra. We also publish Region China, a curated selection of translated articles from our sites and the ACT Property Guide.

We believe that good communication is about listening to the people who live in the region we serve, and that passionate debate and deep local knowledge create the best conversations.

Region is local everywhere. Original, locally sourced editorial content is our priority and all our stories come from the regions we serve.

Strong, ethical and independent editorial policies drive Region Media. Our key commitment is to providing balanced, relevant local content, produced by professional journalists. You can find our editorial standards here.

Our reader interaction creates vibrant, entertaining, on-topic conversations, curated to ensure vigorous but fair discussion. Our commercial partners align with our view that community comes first.

In 2023, Region launched our Innovate level Reconciliation Action Plan. You can read it here.

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Q: Who are our readers and contributors?

Region Media has more than 687,000 unique readers every month across our major platforms and more than 278,000 social media followers.

In addition to our growing team of professional journalists, our editorial team is supported by more than 35 local leaders from politics, local business, not-for-profit organisations, and the community sector spanning local thought leaders, opinion makers, domain experts, and community members.

If you’re interested in contributing, email group editor Genevieve Jacobs on [email protected] or send news and tips to [email protected] for our consideration.

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Q: Does Region Media have a comments policy?

Yes. We welcome comments of all kinds – supportive, dissenting, critical or otherwise. Our rule of thumb is that discussion should be vigorous but fair and we do not moderate genuinely held opinions.

However, we reserve the right to delete or edit comments that:

• Are defamatory or personally abusive
• Promote hate of any kind
• Do not contribute to the discussion
• Mislead through impersonation
• Don’t make sense

Repeat offenders will be blocked from using the comments function on the site. Region Media also reserves the right to block disposable, temporary or otherwise suspect email addresses.

All comments submitted go into a moderation queue for review and approval before appearing on the site and we also moderate all social media posts. As the means of publication, Region Media is also liable for defamation.

If you believe a comment or a story is unfair, contact us via social media or the contacts on the site and raise your concerns with us directly.

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Q: Do I need to register?

If you’d like to comment, you can click on the register link at the top of the page. It will prompt you for a username, an email address and a few other details. You can also connect with us and comment via Facebook, Google and Twitter.

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Q: Can I submit a post for publication?

We welcome contributions to our sites in the form of opinion pieces although the decision whether to run a contribution rests with the editor. Email [email protected] with your idea or submission.

There are a few simple parameters: the topic must be directly connected with local people or issues. It should be well written and defamation free.

Submissions should be between 500 and 750 words and will be edited for length and clarity. You can find the contributor guidelines here.

If we choose not to use your submitted piece, we might assign a journalist to the topic and ask them to work with you on the story.

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Q: How do I search for something?

The “search” button is at the top of the page. Clicking on that takes you to a search engine page.

If you are interested in a particular category you can look up all the posts on that topic just by clicking on the one you want in the categories or subcategories in the main menu.

You can also keep an eye on active discussions in the recent comments or most popular on the right-hand side of the site.

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Q: Can I advertise on Region Media’s sites?

Yes. We work with many local businesses via integrated content, display advertising, event listings and search engine optimised content.

Our control over search engine responses is a powerful tool for our business and community partners.

You can find out more about our partnership options here. Contact us to discuss how we can tailor a package to best suit your requirements.

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Q: What do I do if I have a complaint?

Region Media’s editorial policies state our unwavering commitment to producing accurate, balanced and fair content, as well as the right-of-reply and a formal complaint handling process.

Region Media welcomes your contact. Please use the online contact form and help us to understand your complaint:

Tell us which story, video or social media post you are complaining about including the title and the date of publication where possible.

Clearly outline the nature of your concerns and why you believe they need to be addressed. You can read our editorial standards here.

If you would like a response, please ensure you provide us with a valid email address. Please note that while all complaints will be read and considered carefully, we may not choose to respond to all complaints. We cannot respond to anonymous correspondence.

When a complaint is received, Region Media will seek to deal with it as quickly as possible. We aim to respond within seven days of receipt of the complaint and to resolve the matters as swiftly as practicable, although some complex matters may take longer to resolve.

Response to complaints will be determined by the seriousness of the matter, the likelihood of harm to a person or persons, the potential to mislead, the degree of risk to the public and the genuine risk to reputation.

Region Media is committed to respecting the confidentiality of complainants.

Complaints may be lodged with Region Group by letter to Suite 1.4, 28 National Circuit, Forrest, ACT, 2603 ATTN: Genevieve Jacobs, or via email to [email protected].

For further information on Region Group’s Complaints policy click here.