Community Recognition Notice - Retirement of Joanne Crawford

09 August 2022

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland)—I rise to acknowledge the contribution that Joanne Crawford has made to regional news and storytelling after 40 years in media. I first encountered Joanne in her role as the features editor and night news director for the Newcastle Herald. During her career, Joanne has been the Managing editor of the Central Western Daily, Editor of the Maitland Mercury, Group Editor for Content at Fairfax Media. Joanne officially retired as Head of Content and Shared Services for Australian Community Media; a company made up of more than 140 rural and regional news brands consisting of community-based websites, daily and community newspapers, magazines and events. Joanne was also one of the early Executive Committee Members of the Women's Network Hunter NSW, and helped us enormously in working towards increasing the representation of women in decision making at all levels in Maitland's political, social and business networks. She was always promoting others. I want to express my thanks to Joanne for her energy and efforts to tell local regional stories, particularly in a time of enormous change and development in the media landscape. I wish Joanne all the best for the future and congratulations on an outstanding career.