Strewth! returns to scandal and hard-hitting journalism

The purchase for a reported seven figure sum, which the new owner admits to be something of “an act of faith,” will see the once notorious masthead return to its heyday preoccupation with sex, drugs and rock’n’roll.

Current editor, Wayne Butler, who has only been with the newspaper for three months, said that he would be leaving Fairfax to remain the editor. “We’re looking to take it back to where it used to be in the 60s; it’s been an iconic Kiwi newspaper – the new owners want to revive it and make it a hard-hitting newspaper once again,” he said. “Readers will be treated to exposes and rip offs.”

Truth was well known in the 1960s for scandal reporting and controversial news. It suffered a decline from the 1970s onwards with its circulation dwindling to around 20,000 readers. It makes most of its revenue from outrageous sexual advertising. Fairfax said the Truth no longer fitted easily into its publishing portfolio.

The buyout group includes Horton Media, the printing and publishing venture of Matthew Horton, scion of the well-known newspaper publishing family that owned the New Zealand Herald. Horton emphasized that he would print the newspaper but would have no role in running it. Malley is pinning his hopes on a return to Truth’s good old days with increased editorial content, sports-related and investigative stories. He intends to employ a larger editorial team.

The new Truth hits newsstands 22 February.