Electronic media is a sign of the times, in Queensland anyway

Launched in early March, Fairfax's brave venture into an online newsite brisbanetimes.com.au has paid off. Releasing figures which indicate that the site receives 339, 828 domestic users per month, Fairfax Digital' director of news and information, Pippa Leary, said that the public's response has exceeded all expectations.

Aside from world news and breaking news stories, it was articles covering Queensland issues that users were reading most. "The Brisbane-based editorial team are filing local news and updates throughout the day and on many instances have broken big stories-local and national, first," she said. Leary also added that the site was being accessed by many users from overseas. "Anecdotal evidence and feedback suggests a number of Brisbane ex-pats are using the site as their local connection while overseas," she said.

Traditionally, Queensland has been predominantly News Limited territory in terms of media ownership, but Leary believes that for many the site was a breath of fresh air. "Brisbane and Queensland wanted a new perspective," she said. "We've offered just that and we are delighted Queenslanders have welcomed us so enthusiastically."

Still in its early days, Leary expects that the number of visitors to the site will increase. "The figures to date suggest a healthy appetite for credible Queensland news so as the word gets out further our users will only grow," she said.

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