Digital push kills two Queensland newspapers

APN has axed two of its free weekly Gold Coast newspapers, while cutting two others back with the loss of 35 jobs.

The newspaper giant is creating a digital daily online news service supplemented by twice-weekly print mastheads.

Mastheads on the digital cutting board include the NSW mid-north title Coffs Coast Advocate, the print editions will drop from six a week to two free copies as its editorial shifts to a daily digital site with email and mobile news service.

In the Tweed-Gold Coast, the printed copies of the Daily News will be cut down to weekend editions selling 50 cents, instead of its current $1.30 as it pursues a greater focus online.

According to Warren Bright (pictured), CEO of APN Australian Regional Media, it was a logical step to combine a constantly updated digital news service with this modified print offering.

“In each of these markets, although the audience for paid daily newspapers has been declining there remains very strong demand from both advertisers and the community for the twice weekly newspapers that we are retaining.

“This model will give our clients access to a vast local audience across multiple quality platforms and ensures that the news and information needs of local residents continue to be served,” he says.

Two of the three weekly free-sheets produced out of the Tweed Newspaper Company will be shut down in the second week of December in a bid to cut costs. The Gold Coast Mail and Robina Mail have been dropped, while the Tweed Border Mail continues its circulation in print.

Bright says it is unfortunate to lose print publications on some days, but with the changing media landscape it needs to be prepared and the new model would have a lower cost base.

“We have remarkably resilient and respected brands across our regional markets and our daily and community papers and our digital and mobile sites allow us to reach a very high proportion of households in each market,” he adds.