More Sunshine Coast newspapers close as News Limited follows APN cull
News Limited has followed APN in closing Sunshine Coast print titles.
The publisher will close the Noosa Journal and sister magazine Weekender, along with the Maroochydore and Caloundra editions which it launched after buying the papers just over five years ago.
In November APN announced that Tweed’s 123-year-old Daily News and the 104-year-old Coffs Coast Advocate would both move to reduced frequency, while free titles the Gold Coast Mail and Robina Mail would be closed.
In addition APN axed two of its southern Gold Coast freesheets – the Gold Coast Mail and the Robina Mail. And the daily Coffs Coast Advocate, which covers the NSW mid north coast, became a twice weekly freesheet.
Next week’s editions of The Journal and Weekender will be their last, News Limited said.
The company’s MD of newspapers and digital products Jerry Harris said: “It is with regret that we are closing these titles, but with continuing slow trading conditions on the Sunshine Coast the reality is that they are no longer commercially viable.
“We have begun consultations with affected staff and intend to redeploy as many as we can into News’ other operations in South East Queensland, but inevitably there will be a number of redundancies.
“News will continue to have a strong presence in the region as the Courier-Mail will strengthen its bureau to improve local coverage, and maintain its involvement with keynote Sunshine Coast sporting and cultural events.”
APN’s round of closures led to around 35 redundancies.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Sad day here on the Sunshine Coast! And in the email you say more “Gold Coast” newspapers close … we’re two very different Coasts, with Brisbane in between us.
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Noosa Journal and Weekender sacrificed so the ailing Courier-Mail can reap the harvest of the Journal’s rich Real Estate advertising. One problem: News Limited editions of The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail don’t have a strong presence on The Sunshine Coast and it may be too late to address the problem. The shame is that both the Journal and the Weekender were handsome, well-presented local reads.
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When I lived in Brisbane I never read any of the local papers. In Noosa the local papers are of a better quality, more interesting and very important for local news and advertising. All the trades people and services I have used are from adds in the paper. Big brother “Courier mail” is of no consequence as I get my state/national and international news via the internet. All we can hope is that some one guts and flair takes over the title.
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