If Fairfax is serious about going compact why wait nine months?

Tim Burrowes

June 18, 2012 4:17

If there’s one thing you can’t accuse Fairfax of being, it’s decisive.

By the time the organisation finally takes The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald to compact format next March (if they actually go through with it), it will be almost exactly a decade since the strategy swept through Britian’s broadsheets, transforming – at least temporarily – their fortunes.

But I have my doubts it will actually happen.

Back in September 2003, the Independent led the way, nervously.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.

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2 COMMENTS

Devil's advocaat 18 Jun 12

Strange as they did take The Guardian’s colours and design for Business Day some time ago.

Tend to agree with Tim, March 2013 could be the date to stop printing weekday editions.

Unless of course they can dump another 50,000 a day at the Opera House, gyms, Austrlian Museum etc

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Chris 19 Jun 12

They may have to dump the printed version because a high percentage of newsagents are going through the process of cancelling their home delivery contracts with Fairfax due to lack of profitability. This will decrease their circulation even more. This does not seem to be getting much press but it may actually be Newsagents who put the final sword in the coffin.

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