Marlborough paper cuts production

The Marlborough Express newspaper is undergoing one of the biggest shakeups in its 150-year history.

From May, the Fairfax Media-owned paper will become a morning publication and cut production to three days a week as more content goes online instead.

A weekday email with news headlines will be available from April, alongside the continued Marlborough Midweek community newspaper on Thursdays and the Saturday Express community newspaper.

Fairfax group executive editor Sinead Boucher said ‘‘we have tried to minimise the impact on editorial jobs through attrition over the last few months, but the proposal will mean we ultimately have fewer journalists in the region’’.

Voluntary redundancies were being sought for two positions in the wider editorial team.

‘‘Unfortunately that is a consequence of the changing reader and advertising landscape for print media – something that is being experienced all over the world,’’ Boucher said.

However, Fairfax would still have 10.5 editorial staff in the region, which was more than any other media, she added.

‘‘By shifting the Marlborough Express to a morning publication and reducing the number of days we print we will be making significant savings in distribution and production,’’ Boucher said.

The Express’ owner, Fairfax Media, began a review of the paper in 2016 amid industry-wide falling revenue for newspapers.

Marlborough regional editor Nicola Coburn led a community consultation project about the paper’s future which found strong support but an understanding of the need to change, Boucher said.

‘‘Media organisations the world over are having to rethink the sustainability of their local newspaper models.’’

‘‘The reality is we can’t continue with a daily newspaper in Marlborough for much longer, but we have been an integral part of the community for 150 years and we want to stay that way.’’

Ideas gathered from the local community helped form new content sectionsthat will be introduced in print and online.

Local news and informationwill also be published daily on Stuff and Fairfax’s social site Neighbourly.

Fairfax’s other regional papers include the Taranaki Daily News, Manawatu Standard, Nelson Mail, Timaru Herald and Southland Times.

The company did not say whether it would consider reducing publication days for these titles but Boucher said the challenges faced by the Marlborough Express were not unique to the region or to New Zealand.

Fairfax and NZME, publisher of the New Zealand Herald paper and website, are waiting for news from the Commerce Commission on whether they will be able to merge their businesses.

An interim decision, released in November, was a firm no from the regulator but talks have continued and the final decision is due on April 11.