Dozens of local and regional papers are printing their final front page this week, as widespread cuts across regional journalism hit papers with more than a hundred years of history.
News Corp Australia announced in May that more than 100 local and regional papers would stop printing a physical edition. Some papers are set to go digital-only, while others will be shut down completely.
On Thursday, the Chinchilla News in Queensland splashed with the headline: “Into the future.”
“As this is the last printed edition of Chinchilla News, it’s tempting to want to say goodbye to our loyal readers,” the lead editorial said.
“But the truth is, this is the end of a chapter, and not the end of the story.”
The final front page of the Chinchilla News. pic.twitter.com/8tfUObOkSx
— Tobi Loftus (@tobiloftus) June 24, 2020
The Central and North Burnett Times told readers: “Legacy lives on.” It will continue online. The Balonne Beacon went with “End of our era”.
The final front page of the Balonne Beacon pic.twitter.com/DlTBm8beqx
— Tobi Loftus (@tobiloftus) June 24, 2020
Yesterday I put out my last ever Charleville Western Times. This has been a really special paper for me ever since day one.
— Jorja McDonnell (@jorjamcdonnell) June 24, 2020
I was chucked in the deep end and asked to write the news for a town I’d never been to, and I quickly fell in love with it. pic.twitter.com/2mCagJKPvu
Rachel Riley, a current editor at Tasmania’s Mercury newspaper, reflected on her time at the Herbert River Express.
“My first paper and home for 20 months under three editors,” she said. “A lot [of] awesome coworkers and good people in that community who drove change through that paper.”
Goodbye to the @HRExpress4850 who printed its final edition today. My first paper and home for 20 months under 3 editors. A lot awesome coworkers and good people in that community who drove change through that paper. #RIPHerbie #buyapaper #subscribe pic.twitter.com/U9mjxO9aGo
— Rachel Riley (@Rach_Riley) June 24, 2020
The final front page of the Central and North Burnett Times. pic.twitter.com/5nSBQa4Pdu
— Tobi Loftus (@tobiloftus) June 24, 2020
A sight for (very) sore eyes. The 7th last @daily_mercury being printed. pic.twitter.com/NEzoUAb0Jt
— Rae Wilson (@RaeWilson78) June 19, 2020
In May, journalists said that the closure of regional and local papers would leave “thousands of stories untold”.
On Wednesday, the ABC also announced it would cut 250 jobs and drop the 7.45am news radio bulletin.
News Corp is to stop printing all these newspapers and make them digital only: pic.twitter.com/PLyZHNGxtj
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) May 27, 2020
