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The publisher of Western Australia's dominant regional newspapers is increasing the purchase price as global supply chain issues drive up the cost of the paper they are printed on.
Key points:
- Publishers say demand for local newspapers is still strong
- Despite a preference for accessing online news, sporting groups relish an appearance in their local paper
- Seven West Media representatives say further price rises are not on the cards
Seven West Media, which also publishes The West Australian, recently upped the price of four regional mastheads under its umbrella.
The South Western Times, Geraldton Guardian, Albany Advertiser, and Manjimup Bridgetown Times saw price rises from between $1.30 to $1.90.
The price increases and factors driving them were revealed to readers during a series of public meetings held across regional WA.
Editor in chief Anthony De Ceglie chaired one of the meetings in Geraldton.
"The number one factor … is the supply chain issues for the actual physical paper that we print on," he said.
However, Mr De Ceglie said he had hoped to also stress the "value of journalism we provide" to local communities through local papers.
"We still have 19 regional, physical newspapers, and we are really proud that we did not shut a single newspaper during COVID," Mr De Ceglie said.
Mr De Ceglie, who began his career in journalism at a community newspaper in Collie, said regional papers continued to provide steady revenue streams for publishers which in turn sustained staffing levels.
"If you are producing a newspaper you are going to get more eyeballs, and the digital advertising dollar is not the same as the physical advertising dollar," Mr De Ceglie said.
Youth interest still piqued by paper
South West editor for The West Australian, Jakeb Waddell, said while mainstays such as "letters to the editor" remained a bastion of the "older demographic," anecdotal evidence pointed to a younger demographic maintaining interest in newspapers.
"For example, the local netball team. It's really exciting for them to see their photos in the paper rather than as part of a photo dump on an online album on social media," Mr Waddell said.
"We definitely do still see that engagement with the younger audiences.
"It is slightly different engagement than the older demographic … but there is still something really exciting about picking up a tangible print product, which is really great to see."