Devoted readers and former staff of Australia’s local newspapers have expressed their grief at News Corp Australia’s announcement of significant job cuts and the print closure of more than 100 local and regional newspapers.
The media company’s chairman, Michael Miller, said the papers would move to digital as the impact of coronavirus has hit the advertising spending that keeps the print papers afloat. Dozens of other local mastheads will stop publishing altogether.
Journalists and readers said this would leave a huge hole in local communities and “thousands of stories” untold.
News Corp is to stop printing all these newspapers and make them digital only: pic.twitter.com/PLyZHNGxtj
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) May 27, 2020
The Nationals MP and minister for veteran’s affairs, Darren Chester, said it was “gutting” to see the closures.
The former ABC managing director Mark Scott said it was “devastating” and the former politician and broadcaster Derryn Hinch said it was a “terrible day for journalism”.
35 years ago, I started my working life as a cadet in Gippsland. As a country, & then suburban journalist, I worked at newspapers which told the stories the metros would never touch. It’s gutting to see the printers stop working & jobs lost at our community & regional newspapers. pic.twitter.com/krgvos82cE
— Darren Chester MP (@DarrenChesterMP) May 28, 2020
The loss of these suburban and country newspapers is a terrible day for journalism --especially for young reporters just starting out. My first paper had a circulation of 10,000.
— Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) May 28, 2020
PSA: regional news is not a ‘training ground’ for journalists. Regional news is full of talented, experienced reporters doing essential work for their communities.
— Saffron Howden (@saffronhowden) May 28, 2020
My first ever gig in journalism was at Fairfield Advance. The first story I ever wrote was about local paramedics who were being assaulted on the job. A year later I would get my first Fairfax front page through the contacts I made that day.
— Kevin Nguyen (@cog_ink) May 28, 2020
Devastating toll of print newspapers shutting here. https://t.co/krHRWMqrwo
— Mark Scott (@mscott) May 27, 2020
Other pointed out that many regional readers needed a print edition to access news, and that local papers played a crucial role keeping local government accountable.
Digital only editions only work for people with computers and smart phones. What about the elderly? Those in low socio-economic groups? There are people who can't afford a digital subscription, but who can read a paper in a cafe or at a friend's house. Can't do that online.
— Karen Sweeney (@karenlsweeney) May 27, 2020
Here's a study a couple of years ago that links the closure of local newspapers with cost blow-outs in local government. The idea is that without scrutiny from actual reporters doing actual reporting, councils are more likely to mismanage their finances.https://t.co/jqlfNJh09E
— Michael Roddan (@MichaelRoddan) May 27, 2020
My nan and pop don't have internet. They could never access news online, and desperately rely on their local, physical paper.
— Brittney Rigby (@brittneyrigby) May 27, 2020
If it were axed, I'm not sure what they'd do. It was paused as part of ACM's suspension of non-daily titles, and they've felt unmoored, disconnected. https://t.co/n1zB6dmJAC
I started on @gympie_times in 1988 covering courts and council and everything in between. Readers used to walk up the stairs to deliver their letters to the editor. They felt the paper belonged to them and five days a week it would land with a plop on front lawns pic.twitter.com/Kr9NIofNhy
— Lisa Millar (@LisaMillar) May 28, 2020
This is me holding my first ever front page story printed in the @daily_mercury. They same story ran in the @couriermail and was picked up by breakfast TV and other media. Breaks my heart the paper that told Mackay’s stories for more than 100 years won’t print anymore. pic.twitter.com/1CJy3c6ztd
— Ashley Pillhofer (@ashpillhofer) May 27, 2020
Oh god, this is terrible.
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) May 27, 2020
I grew up in regional Australia. Our local papers are important! The Age and the Herald Sun don't care about issues with Wangaratta's water treatment plant!
Not to mention the young journalists who are trained up in these papers. https://t.co/pf96riUWau