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STEVE HARRIS, PUBLISHER OF THE AGE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR CUSTOM MAGAZINES June 30, 2000 -- John Fairfax Holdings Limited today announced the formation of a new custom publishing magazines unit, Fairfax Custom Magazines. Formerly known as BRW Media – Custom Publishing, the new entity - renamed Fairfax Custom Magazines - will be based in Melbourne and managed by Steve Harris, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Age. Fairfax Custom Magazines will assume responsibility for existing publishing contracts which include Qantas The Australian Way and The Qantas Club magazines, the National Gallery Society of Victoria’s Gallery magazine, and the Australian Institute of Management’s Management Today . Fairfax Chief Executive Officer, Fred Hilmer, said that Fairfax Custom Magazines would continue the excellent work previously performed for clients by BRW Media. "I would like to recognise the contribution of the staff at BRW who have maintained good relationships with important and valuable clients. Their efforts give us a solid base to further develop our capacities and business strategies in this area". "Custom publishing is an important part of Fairfax’s business and this change signals a commitment to build and grow that business. We believe that by establishing a separate unit with a broader focus and the ability to draw upon additional resources and marketing support, at The Age and throughout Fairfax, we will be well positioned to take advantage of new growth in what is a very competitive market". "The change also means Fairfax Business Publications under the leadership of Michael Gill, will be able to focus on building its portfolio of financial publications, which includes those of the Strategic Publishing Group. We aim to leverage our strengths in producing high quality financial publications which also have strong future growth prospects", Mr Hilmer said. Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Age, Steve Harris, said he was looking forward to further developing the business. "The additional responsibilities associated with Fairfax Custom Magazines will further develop The Age in a multi-dimensional way. It will further strengthen our skills and capacities in the magazines area". "Qantas The Australian Way, The Qantas Club, Gallery Magazine, and Management Today are excellent publications and we are proud to be associated with them and the organisations which own them". Mr Harris said that Fairfax Custom Magazines would be headed by Ms Gaye Murray. Ms Murray has extensive magazine publishing experience. She was recently Publisher of Pacific Publications’ Home Beautiful, Your Garden, and Elle Cuisine, and has previously been publisher and advertising sales director of ACP Homemaker Magazines. Mr Harris said Ms Murray, who will take up her position in July, had a proven record of delivering results and getting the best results out of advertising, editorial and marketing teams. Ms Murray said : "Fairfax has taken some bold and innovative steps in the magazine area, and I am excited by the prospects of helping to further develop quality products which meet the demands of readers and advertisers". Mr Harris said that Mr Paul Riva, General Manager - Custom Publishing BRW Media, who has played a very important role in working with existing clients and developing new business strategies in the custom publishing area will continue in his role and will transfer to The Age shortly. -- ENDS -- Media enquiries : Nigel Henham, Communications Director, The Age (03) 9601 2997 or 0407 873 149. Bruce Wolpe, Manager Corporate Affairs, Fairfax (02) 9282 3640. Note to editors John Fairfax Holdings [ASX:FXJ] is Australia’s leading publishing group. Its mastheads include The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Sun Herald, and BRW. In addition, the company publishes financial and consumer magazines, and provides online and interactive services. In 1999, the company had revenues of over $1.1 billion. Fairfax, through f2, its wholly owned subsidiary for its online and interactive businesses, is building a strong position in e-commerce and is Australia’s leading content provider on the Internet, with over 2.3 million page views per day (2.4 million site visits per week) across a network of sites including news, business, investing, personal finance, motoring, sports, auctions, property, employment, freemail, search/homepage, shopping, travel, technology, city guides, and directories. |
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Fairfax > Corporate Affairs & Media Releases > Announcements > CUSTOM PUBLISHING
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