News Corp is ditching its free daily newspaper mX, blaming the changing reading habits of commuters. The final edition of the paper, which is handed out at train stations and other commuter locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, will appear on Friday, June 12.
"News confirms the closure of mX in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane," said a News Corp Australia spokesman. “The decision is a reflection of the changing reading habits of commuters who now turn to their mobile phones and tablets on their way to and from work. The last issue will be June 12 and we will redeploy as many affected staff as we can."
News Corp CEO Julian Clarke announced the decision earlier today in an email to staff. “It is always disappointing to see a publication close but after thorough view of MX’s commercial prospects it is clear this is the right decision,” he said. “MX has since its inception in Melbourne in 2001 served a young commuter audience well with its fresh and innovative style. Nevertheless that audience’s swift shift to mobile information and entertainment has made this decision inevitable.”
The axing comes just weeks after a redesign of the paper - including a new logo and layout as well as a revamped app - resulted in a number of staff redundancies. It’s not yet clear how many more jobs are affected by today's announcement.
In Sydney, mX circulation had dropped 21 per cent since March 2012 and in Melbourne it was down 18 percent.