News Corp the publisher of the Daily Telegraph and a host of other daily newspapers says it will suspend printing of 60 community newspapers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia from April 9.
Many of the community titles are free with no cover charge and soley rely on advertising revenue for income.
The organisation said advertising revenues had rapidly declined after the restrictions placed on real estate auctions and home inspections, and the forced closure of event venues and dine-in restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic.
The organisation said advertising revenues had rapidly declined after the restrictions placed on real estate auctions and home inspections, and the forced closure of event venues and dine-in restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic.
The move follows the closure of several Victorian Independent newspapers last month as a result of a decline in revenue resulting from the pandemic.
News Corp said the community mastheads would “Continue to publish digitally with reporters and photographers expanding News Corp’s hyper-local news coverage for consumers across Australia.”
He said during the COVID-19 emergency News Corp’s main priority was to preserve jobs and get the company in a strong position to counter the crisis.
“During this unprecedented time it is imperative that we reduce costs while continuing to keep the community informed and doing all we can to retain jobs,” Mr Miller said.
“The print suspension will allow us to assess the shape of the market itself and future conditions, taking into account how the coronavirus situation unfolds in the coming period.”
