Marlborough newspaper no longer a daily
The Marlborough Express newspaper is undergoing one of the biggest shakeups in its 150-year history.
From May, the Fairfax Mediaowned paper will move to 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 publication of the 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.’’
However, Fairfax would still have 10.5 editorial staff in the region, which was more than any other media, she said.
‘‘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 sections.