- Published on
By Matt Dunn
LAST month, News Corp Australia announced it was moving almost all of its community and regional newspaper titles to a digital-only format.
A small number of regional titles ceased publication altogether – snuffed out by a seismic shift in the way advertisements are run and news is consumed. Who hasn’t noticed the way traditional papers have continued to shrink?
It’s heart wrenching to say, but the obituary for print has already been written.
When we - the core group behind The Paper - lost our jobs at the Leongatha Star, we were bereft. It had been a tough time recently, and we knew that the closure during the Covid-19 lockdown was likely to end up being permanent. It was a sad and inauspicious end to 130 years of local history. The same, of course, applies to the Star’s sister paper, the Yarram Standard, which had been around for 145 years.
LAST month, News Corp Australia announced it was moving almost all of its community and regional newspaper titles to a digital-only format.
A small number of regional titles ceased publication altogether – snuffed out by a seismic shift in the way advertisements are run and news is consumed. Who hasn’t noticed the way traditional papers have continued to shrink?
It’s heart wrenching to say, but the obituary for print has already been written.
When we - the core group behind The Paper - lost our jobs at the Leongatha Star, we were bereft. It had been a tough time recently, and we knew that the closure during the Covid-19 lockdown was likely to end up being permanent. It was a sad and inauspicious end to 130 years of local history. The same, of course, applies to the Star’s sister paper, the Yarram Standard, which had been around for 145 years.
For me, personally, newspaper closures are like the ransacking of galleries filled with priceless art - a sledgehammer blow to our democracy and our sense of self. Sure, there are some dodgy journalists around. Sure, there are some media moguls with hidden agendas. But, for the most part, news journalists are keen to tell a story and tell it first.
For a country journalist it’s an even more personal mission, since you often know the people you’re writing about.
While we’re saddened by the News Corp announcement, we can appreciate why it’s occurred. It hurts me to say that the old newsprint format is dead (or at least on its deathbed). It’s why we have chosen to launch our own news service online. The past is the past, and the present barely stands still. If you don’t look to the future, you may as well as give up all hope.
While we have traditionally been newspaper people, we’ve embraced a new era – and taken our paper – ‘The Paper’ – online. That means extended videos, traditional articles and a fully interactive website. We’ve got great regular columnists, laughs, hard analysis of the news and a bright personality.
For a country journalist it’s an even more personal mission, since you often know the people you’re writing about.
While we’re saddened by the News Corp announcement, we can appreciate why it’s occurred. It hurts me to say that the old newsprint format is dead (or at least on its deathbed). It’s why we have chosen to launch our own news service online. The past is the past, and the present barely stands still. If you don’t look to the future, you may as well as give up all hope.
While we have traditionally been newspaper people, we’ve embraced a new era – and taken our paper – ‘The Paper’ – online. That means extended videos, traditional articles and a fully interactive website. We’ve got great regular columnists, laughs, hard analysis of the news and a bright personality.
We at The Paper are banking (quite literally) on the assumption that New Corp is on the right track. Believe me, we’re not rejoicing in it, for we know the human cost of newspaper closures. We’re amongst those affected (though we would never see ourselves as ‘victims’).
That being said, we will be staring down the barrel of a paltry Job Seeker ‘wage’ unless we can find traction with this online enterprise.
Fortunately, the early signs are good - with local advertisers and local readers already embracing our digital platform.
Frightening as these times are, we can only take the leap: gathering all the traditions and heart of a community newspaper and putting them online.
The future is as yet unwritten, just like tomorrow’s news. The delivery format may change, but there will always be a story to tell and a community to serve.
Here’s to tomorrow, whatever it may bring.
That being said, we will be staring down the barrel of a paltry Job Seeker ‘wage’ unless we can find traction with this online enterprise.
Fortunately, the early signs are good - with local advertisers and local readers already embracing our digital platform.
Frightening as these times are, we can only take the leap: gathering all the traditions and heart of a community newspaper and putting them online.
The future is as yet unwritten, just like tomorrow’s news. The delivery format may change, but there will always be a story to tell and a community to serve.
Here’s to tomorrow, whatever it may bring.
Now you can write your own headlines!
Readers will always go where the best story tellers have the freedom to inform and inspire. Stay true, stay local and the readership will find you.