‘Print is our hero’ says Katie Maclean of the growing network of print mastheads being developed for north-west Brisbane.

Latest of these, the Chermside Echo, launched this month, with social posts welcoming the product: “Love seeing local print making a comeback,” one wrote on LinkedIn.

The latest Echo serves Chermside, Wavell Heights, Kedron, Stafford and surrounding suburbs, with 14,000 copies distributed free around the area.

An Albany Creek local and former Fairfax Regional Media features editor, she acquired the Hills Echo community magazine six years ago, building it into what is now a cluster of four print mastheads – including the Everton Echo and the South Pine Echo – plus a website for younger citizens, The Little Echo.

On social media and face-to-face, the welcome has been notable. “Launching a brand-new community magazine is always a little daunting. You never quite know how it will be received,” she says, adding that “from day one” the new magazine has been welcomed.

“It’s moments like these that remind me why local community news matters. Thank you for embracing my little rag and supporting independent, locally owned journalism.”