By Mitchell Clarke
Printed editions of Leader community newspapers will be suspended from 9 April, News Corp Australia has announced.
In a statement issued on Tuesday 31 March, the media giant announced the suspension of 60 community titles across the country, thanks to a decline in advertising revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said the decision was not taken lightly.
“The suspension of our community print editions has been forced on us by the rapid decline in advertising revenues following the restrictions placed on real estate auctions and home inspections, the forced closure of event venues and dine-in restaurants in the wake of the coronavirus emergency,’ Mr Miller said.
“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.
“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.”
It’s understood the community mastheads will continue to publish digitally with reporters and photographers continuing their local news coverage.
Leader newspapers have mastheads in Cranbourne and Dandenong.
