ACM managing director Tony Kendall yesterday announced a new publishing model for three of the company’s mastheads in Central West NSW. The new model means weekday editions of three iconic news brands will no longer be printed.
Two smaller regional publications are to completely cease print editions.
Staff at Orange’s Central Western Daily, Bathurst’s Western Advocate, Dubbo’s Daily Liberal and other impacted titles were briefed on Thursday regarding the changes proposed to take effect next month.
From Monday 26 August, three newspapers will no longer offer print editions Monday to Friday. ACM said the growing number of digital subscribers will continue to receive comprehensive daily local news and sport plus breaking news alerts.
The smaller weekly titles Oberon Review and Blayney Chronicle will cease publishing in print. The Mudgee Guardian will move its publication day from Friday to Saturday.
No longer weekday print editions for these three ACM regional NSW newspapers
Staff redundancies possible
Consultation has commenced with affected ACM staff about the new leadership and team structures and roles. The company revealed redundancies can be expected in editorial and sales teams if redeployment opportunities cannot be identified.
For the print titles that survive on weekends, ACM is promising readers expanded, new-look weekend editions from Saturday, August 24. In addition to local news, sport and columnists readers can expect lift-outs and sections including Explore travel, View real estate, the racing form and a weekly TV Guide.
Demand for print continues to decline
ACM acknowledged less demand for print products as growing regional centres turn to digital subscriptions. The new publishing model will offer a morning briefing via a daily newsletter, plus updates throughout the day via an app or the website. “[The changes] allow the mastheads’ newsrooms and ACM to focus on delivering subscribers the best possible experience across the products and the platforms its communities are engaging with the most,” said a company statement.
ACM pointed to 15% annual growth at in paid digital subscriptions in key markets since their introduction in 2018.
Australian Community Media managing director Tony Kendall
Tony Kendall on consumer demand, Meta news funding
“ACM is evolving to be Australia’s leading regional and rural digital media company, and it’s important that we evolve our products to meet the modern reader’s preferences,” said Tony Kendall. “This new model follows changing consumption habits among readers, plus unsustainable production costs in these markets and reduced support from government and Meta.
“Every title in our portfolio has been affected by Meta’s decision to cancel its news funding arrangements in Australia, along with rising production expenses and a shift in advertising from newspapers to the digital platforms,” Kendall added.
“Unlike our other daily newspapers, the three mastheads in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo have been particularly hard-hit by unsustainable distribution costs.
“As a result, we are meeting the challenge with a strategic initiative that supports the continued sustainability of our local journalism.
“We have no immediate plans to implement this publishing model at our other dailies.”
Weekday print editions will continue at 11 ACM titles serving larger regional communities.
The Western Advocate’s origins in Bathurst, Australia’s oldest inland settlement, date back to 1848. The Daily Liberal began in Dubbo in 1874. The Central Western Daily has been serving Orange and surrounds since 1945.
The three newspapers are printed at Tamworth every night and then trucked into their respective markets.
Kendall: “In recent years, ACM’s Central Western NSW communities have embraced our digital subscription offering and this new model allows them to have the best of both worlds – with digital access on the go and a bumper weekend print edition.
“The Western Advocate, Central Western Daily and Daily Liberal have proud histories of serving the cities of Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo with quality, independent journalism and that will absolutely continue as we focus on the products that meet our readers’ changing consumption habits and continue to have a sustainable model for local journalism.”
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