For the first time our latest news headlines will be available as audio briefings on smart speakers, podcast players and Spotify.

The briefings will be updated each morning at 6am, ready for you to play while making the breakfast, getting the children ready for school or commuting to work.

If you want to hear our audio briefings you can find them by saying 'Ok Google, play The Illawarra Mercury Today' on your Google Home. If you use Amazon Echo simply say: "Alexa, enable The Illawarra Mercury Today'. You can find out more about playing bulletins on your smart speaker here.

You can also find the briefings on Spotify or in Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Finally, if you'd prefer you can play them direct from our website here.

Or you can listen below:

The audio briefings are part of a wider strategy from ACM, which publishes the Mercury, to provide compelling local journalism to diverse audiences wherever they are.

ACM is working with SpokenLayer, the market leader in short-form audio production & distribution who recently launched their Australian arm and will be providing daily bulletins in Canberra, Ballarat, Launceston, Albury-Wodonga and the Illawarra.

ACM recently set up an audio team with former ABC journalist Laura Corrigan and former BBC journalist Tom Melville. Next week they will launch a new storytelling podcast series, Voice of Real Australia, which will introduce listeners to new people, places and perspectives.

ACM editorial director Rod Quinn said smart speakers were being increasingly used in homes but access to local news updates had been limited.

"Our new audio bulletins will fill that gap for our readers, bringing them the latest news, sport and politics headlines wherever they are," he said.