Newcastle, NSW, September 25, 2002 -- Newcastle Newspapers, a division of John Fairfax Holdings [ASX:FXJ], will extend its regional publishing footprint with the launch of a new daily edition, the Central Coast Herald, from this Saturday, September 28.
The Herald will be a paid-for daily newspaper, published Monday to Saturday, serving 300,000 people in the twin shires of Gosford and Wyong, one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.
The paper will be based on the successful formula of The Newcastle Herald, which circulates throughout the Hunter Valley. It will have the same cover price as the Newcastle edition ($1, Mon – Fri, $1.50 Sat).
The Herald has established a news gathering operation at Erina, where some production will also be based. This Saturday’s edition will include Central Coast real estate and motoring liftouts; a colour magazine, Weekender; and the largest classifieds marketplace in the Central Coast and Hunter Valley.
Mr Brian Evans, General Manager of Fairfax Regional and Community Newspapers, said: “The launch into the Central Coast has been some two years in the planning and marks a major step forward for the Fairfax regional group. This is a natural extension of our daily newspaper franchise. It will serve readers and advertisers much more effectively by introducing six-day frequency into a marketplace familiar only with free weekly papers.
“The Central Cost is growing – in population, business, tourism, real estate and employment – and we want to grow with the community with the launch of the daily Central Cost Herald.”
Mr Alan Oakley, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of the Herald, said: “Daily newspaper sales on the Central Coast are well below the national average through the lack of a local, daily newspaper. The Herald will fill the void. This initiative recognises the development of the Coast into a major region. We are giving the Coast the newspaper it deserves, one which I believe can help further develop its identity and give the community a more powerful voice on the national stage.”
Mr Oakley said that research undertaken by the company* indicated that 80 percent of people on the Coast believed it was important the region had its own local daily newspaper.
Mr Derek Taylor has been appointed manager of the Central Coast Herald in addition to his responsibilities for the Central Coast Sun Weekly, the free newspaper which will continue to be distributed to 100,000 homes and businesses on the Coast. Mr Dean Gould, formerly Editor of The Northern Star, Lismore, has been appointed Editor.
Fairfax acquired The Sun Weekly newspaper in July 2001.That paper was founded in 1987. The new Central Coast Sun Weekly was launched by Newcastle Newspapers in August, 2001]
*Central Coast Research Foundation, July, 2002
-- ENDS --
For further information, please contact
Brian Evans, Newcastle Newspapers, 02
