SYDNEY TIMES CELEBRATES TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY AGAINST ALL ODDS
-The Sydney Times: Ten Years of Independent Hyperlocal Journalism
Sydney,26 June 2025
Sydney Times Media Publisher and Custodian Axel Ritenis
Guided by Our Mission, Driven by Achievements this year marks a momentous occasion for The Sydney Times as we celebrate our “10-year Anniversary” as an independent hyperlocal news platform.
Our journey over the past decade, guided by a clear mission, stands as a testament to the power of community, dedication, and the enduring need for truly local voices.
Our Mission: The Guiding Principles of The Sydney Times from our inception, The Sydney Times has been driven by a core mission- To provide the best content and product that is relevant, compelling and attractive to readers and community business partners and stakeholders.
Our foundation also acknowledges the crucial role of our Executive Director and Custodian of the Brand, Aksel Axel) Ritenis, who has provided strategic direction and oversight, with a vision for a future built by a dedicated professional team of Volunteer and independent Freelancer Journalists who want to give back to their community.
His commitment, as a custodian, emphasizes providing thoughtful, intelligent, and well-researched analysis in a ‘post-truth’ world, carefully curating news resources and fostering a team of knowledgeable Citizen Journalists.
At its heart, the Sydney Times aims to share the following Community News announcements:
-Media Releases from the NSW government and it agencies
-Media releases and insight and information from the Sydney City Council,
Media releases and news from NSW Business Stakeholders and the wider community through a transparent and unfiltered Newswire Service.
We strive to offer free access to the exchange of information and ideas, resisting the distortions of bias prejudice and vested interests as displayed by the Legacy Media.
“We operate without an ideological agenda, dedicated to preserving the integrity of the free press in NSW by serving as a Community Noticeboard, sharing news with all its nuances and complexity in an ethical, socially, and environmentally sustainable way, with transparency and no hidden commercial interests.”
Our business model, built on trust, truth, and transparency, is funded through advertising, donations, and subscriptions.
Whilst we now use AI on a routine basis (as does all mainstream media) We prioritize fact-checking, rely on professional human editors, reward contributors fairly, protect our readers’ data, and adhere to the Australian Press Council code of Ethics.
For those seeking open-minded, independent hyperlocal news, The Sydney Times strives to be the genuine article!
The Custodians Report Card
Achievements Measured Against Our Mission: A Decade of Impact Looking back over the past ten years, we can proudly measure our achievements against the tenets of our mission- Providing Relevant, Compelling, and Attractive Content to our readership both Sydney Hyperlocal, NSWs and International.
We sought to challenge the duopoly of News Corp and Nine Fairfax, offering a fresh perspective that prioritizes community needs and voices. Ours is a Transparent News Service and we pride ourselves on offering a transparent news service with no bias or hidden agenda.
We believe in giving the community the right to post media releases and unfiltered content, allowing them to have a voice and share their stories without interference or editorial manipulation. Unlike many other news outlets, we don’t represent the establishment or big corporate sector.
Our loyalty is to the community we serve, and we’re committed to providing a platform that is truly independent and free from external influence. Achievements Over the past decade, we’ve made significant progress toward our mission.
Our sustained readership with over 4 million Pageviews since our inception demonstrates the positive and growing community support
for our Hyperlocal Sydney coverage and our News and Lifestyle formula.
We have become a go-to source for local news, evidenced by increasing website traffic and social media engagement, fulfilling the first part of our mission.
As a groundbreaking leading and pioneering Hyperlocal digital publication We have inspired Dozens of other new Hyperlocal publications in Australia and the world.
Anyone setting out in this Endeavor has used the Sydney Times model as a reference point for small budget citizen journalism,which is why the Mainstream media continue to monitor and try to contain us because we pose a serious threat to their own viability.
By sharing community news, government and council releases, and business stakeholder updates directly, we have strived to be a reliable platform for unfiltered information, empowering our readers to form their own conclusions which is in stark contrast to the modus operandi of the established mainstream legacy media which seeks to influence and manipulate the news cycle with biased reporting so it is little wonder that they has now lost the trust of the community ,who are turning to independent publications like the Guardian ,the Conversation and Crikey.
Our commitment to presenting diverse perspectives without pushing a specific agenda has fostered a platform for open dialogue and a genuine community noticeboard, upholding the integrity of a free press. Our emphasis on fact-checking, human editing, fair treatment of contributors by facilitating Opinion pieces and responsible data handling reflects our dedication to ethical, socially, and environmentally sustainable operations.
While navigating the challenging media landscape, The Sydney Times has maintained financial viability through a diversified model of advertising, donations, and subscriptions. Our longevity as an independent platform signifies our ability to generate revenue and manage resources effectively, aligning with our financial objectives.
Our journey over the past decade is a testament to the power of community, dedication, and the enduring need for truly local voices.
The Road Ahead
As we celebrate this milestone, we remain dedicated to our mission and to building upon our achievements. Despite the challenges facing independent media, our proven track record and guiding principles provide a strong foundation for continued success and growth.
Despite the challenges facing independent media, our proven track record and guiding principles provide a strong foundation for continued success and growth.
“A Heartfelt Thank You To our dedicated team, supportive advertisers and donors, and engaged readers, thank you for being part of The Sydney Times’ journey.”
Your belief in independent, hyperlocal journalism has made the past decade a success, and we look forward to continuing to serve you with integrity and dedication.
