What is Spark? Who is Catalyst?

Spark is Shoalhaven's independent, public-interest newsletter and website that aims to amplify community efforts and stimulate debate on local issues.

Sparking curiosity. Kindling conversation. Igniting change.

Spark produces and curates constructive and critical coverage of issues in our region through articles, podcasts, video and social media.

Spark publishes reader-driven content without affiliation or obligation to political, business or religious institutions. It provides independent, grassroots perspectives as an important counterpoint to the established commercial media.

All FREE. For community. By community. About community.

Knowledge is power. Everyone should have equal access to reliable information about decisions, events and trends affecting our future. We want our audience to be 'in the know' without scrolling, trolling or paywalls creating barriers.

Spark was launched in 2024 by Cat Holloway, a freelance journalist with a background in news reporting, magazine editing, photography and citizen science.

Following experience as a reporter in country and metropolitan newspapers, Cat became Editor of special interest magazines, Australian Camera and Australasian SCUBA Diver, and a feature writer for a wide variety of mastheads, including Good Weekend, National Geographic, Cosmopolitan, Islands, Simply Living, Choice and GEO.

The Catalyst is Cat's blog - essays and reports focusing on the collision of planet, people, power and policy.

Subscribe FREE to The Catalyst/Spark Shoalhaven for a summary of news, views and issues emailed directly to you.

Join more conversations with our Spark community on Instagram, YouTube or Bluesky.

A Spark Plug

If you appreciate independent local media and would like to see this platform and audience grow, consider making this Cat purr with a donation as modest or generous as you wish.

Your financial support will help improve the site, develop more video and podcast content and access professional multimedia publishing tools or services.

Whether you can donate or not, we are grateful for every subscriber. The bigger our audience, the better content we attract and the more Sparks will fly!

Spark change in Shoalhaven!

1. Subscribe to our email newsletter and rally your friends to sign up too. We are nothing without an audience. Join our Instagram community too!
2. Send us your tips, ideas, and interests. Which local issues and happenings do you want to understand better?
3. Submit your own story - words, pictures, video or podcast. We'd love to publish quality work from local journalists, photographers, creatives, knowledgeable commentators and community groups. That's the platform's purpose.

Spark up a conversation when you subscribe at spark@catholloway.com
Thank you!

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