Melbourne newspapers prove a leader among local community

Having acquired Times Publications, Leader Newspapers replaced The Western Times, Werribee Times and Hobsons Bay Times with new titles, the Maribyrnong Leader, Wyndham Leader and Hobsons Bay Leader. The Maribyrnong Leader (formerly The Western Times) now has a print run of 28,758 - an increase of 4000 copies, while the Wyndham Leader (formerly Werribee Times) sits at 44,479, with an increase of 7000 extra copies.

Circulating throughout Melbourne's western suburbs, the three papers focus on local issues and also have accompanying websites. Launched on 29 May, Rick Edwards, editor, said that things were looking good for each of the publications. "The launch went well," he said. "The three papers looked fresh and were full of local news."

Leader Community Newspapers has a total of 33 newspapers that attract 1.96 million readers per week, making them the primary source of print media for many residents. "We now have 100 per cent coverage of metropolitan Melbourne," said Sylvia Bradshaw, Leader Newspapers general manager. "Our local editorial teams ensure that we report news that's relevant to our readers and we provide an unparalleled advantage to advertisers who can choose to talk directly to readers in their local community - or cover the entire Melbourne footprint."

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