Local Media Pty Ltd publishes a regional edition of The Local Paper across the Murrindindi Shire, also circulating in the rural areas of the Mansfield, Nillumbik and Whittlesea municipalities.

The first edition of The Local Paper appeared in some sections of the Murrindindi Shire (Flowerdale, Glenburn, Strath Creek, Yarck, Yea) and Whittlesea on February 17, 2016. It expanded rapidly soon after to areas including Alexandra, Buxton, Eildon, Marysville, Narbethong, Taggerty and Thornton, with sister editions introduced in the Mitchell Shire, and Yarra Ranges Shire.

Local Media Pty Ltd’s Publisher, Ash Long, has a press association with the Whittlesea municipality dating back to 1973, when he was an editorial ‘stringer’ for the Whittlesea Post newspaper produced by the Leader Publishing Co. Long purchased The Yea Chronicle business from Tom Dignam (pictured) on April 2, 1984. The Long family continued its proprietorship of The Chronicle until 1993, commencing other eidtions in Kinglake, Whittlesea, Mill Park, Yarra Glen, Broadford, Kilmore, Seymour and Nagambie. He later produced The Yea Advertiser and sister editions.

Local Media Pty Ltd produced The Phoenix, a special purpose free newspaper in the 18 months after the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. Local Media Pty Ltd donated $1.3 million of advertising to local businesses in the bushfire recovery area, to help local people get back on their feet. The Phoenix included a weekly section called The Local Paper throughout 2009-2011.

The Yea newspaper started life as The Yea Telegraph in October, 1885, under the proprietorship of Richard Roland Cramer, Michael Lawrence Hickey and Andrew Robinson. The newspaper became The Yea Chronicle in 1890 with owners as follows:
• 1980-1896: PatrickGalvin,
• 1896-1900: Edwin Howard Dobson,
• 1900-1907: Norman Dugald Ferguson,
• 1097-1927: Major Frederick George Purcell,
• 1927-1929: Elizabeth Barbara Purcell,
• 1928-1932: William Henry Tomkins,
• 1934-1936: George Philip Armstrong,
• 1936: James Vincent Gannon,
• 1936-1968: Thomas Michael Dignam and Edward Leo Dignam,
• 1968-1984: Thomas Michael Dignam,
• 1984-1993: Ashley Lawrence Long and Fleur Marian Long,
• 1993-: Alexandra Newspapers Pty Ltd.

Local Media Pty Ltd is not connected in any way with Alexandra Newspapers Pty Ltd.

Norman Dugald Ferguson was raised at Flowerdale Station, Strath Creek. being the third son of Donald Ferguson, a popular settler, and prominent in the affairs of the Broadford Road Board. Norman Dugald Ferguson was instrumental in the creation of the Stock & Land newspaper. A press report from June 6, 1929, noted that he had died at his residence, ‘Vernon’, Armadale: “The deceased gentleman was of a retiring diosposition, a fine type of Australian native, and one who was deservedly trusted and highly esteemed by all who had opportunity of estimating hisd admirable qualities.”