Australia’s biggest-selling daily newspapers are being produced from couches and coffee tables across the country with entire newsrooms working from home for the first time in our nation’s history, reports News Corp Australia, publisher of daily metro newspapers around the country.
News Corp released this statement about challenges it has been facing and the growing audience for its products:
The country’s major newspapers have shown the same spirit as thousands of businesses across the community, pivoting their operations to meet rising consumer demand to stay connected via trusted news and information.
Editorial news conferences are being held by Google Hangouts, designers are producing pages on their dining tables, and reporters and photographers are scattered across the states.
With Coronavirus dominating live blogs, daily newsletters, digital editions and daily papers, editors are adapting and finding new ways of working.
And readers are responding with the latest data showing audiences for News Corp’s metro mastheads and The Australian surging by 48 per cent in the past week.
Sales of newspapers in supermarkets have also spiked.
Herald Sun editor Sam Weir said home delivery queries were increasing as people bunkered down to self-distance.
“The original home delivery product is making a comeback,” he said.
“And a home delivered newspaper these days includes a full digital subscription which is why so many are embracing the opportunity.”
The response comes as News Corp refreshes its “We’re for you” brand campaign this weekend to highlight the crucial role traditional media plays in the fabric of everyday life, and especially in a crisis.
A series of double page spreads showcasing the “When It Matters Most” campaign will be complemented by TV, radio and digital marketing over the coming weeks.
Adelaide’s The Advertiser and Queensland’s The Courier-Mail have already published editions with the entire editorial team working remotely, and the Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph have trials planned for this week.
While digital subscriptions have grown 21 percent year-on-year in the past week, sales at major supermarkets have spiked, and home delivery queries are also on the rise.
A daily coronavirus newsletter has provided a snapshot of everything readers need to know about the biggest global crisis since World War II.
Coronavirus stories are also dominating the top 10 most commented stories across all four metros.
