Fairfax flags shared print venture

Fairfax chief, Brian McCarthy, looking to join forces with other publishers to share newspaper printing.

In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, (published by Fairfax), Brian McCarthy, chief executive of Fairfax Media, said that publishers could share printing and distribution of their newspapers, resulting in cost savings.

“There’s an opportunity for the industry to work together in areas such as distribution,” McCarthy said. “It’s a missed opportunity, one we need to grasp in the future. There are things publishers could do together, although there are no firm plans at this stage.”

This is not the first time such an initiative has been considered. Four years ago, Fairfax entered discussions with the Murdoch-owned News Limited, though nothing eventuated as a result. Brendan Hopkins, chief executive of APN, denied any discussions with Fairfax.

The more recent talk has already drawn criticism from those in the industry, one of whom told the AFR that printing the newspapers would prove problematic for the rivals. “Printing is the sticking point – more specifically, who would use shared printing presses last and get the advantage of late deadlines,” said the source.