Publisher confirms news closures
Five community newspapers will close because buyers could not be found.
Publisher Stuff revealed in February that it planned to close or sell 28 of its community newspapers around the country.
In March, Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher said the Christchurch Mail, Napier Mail, Hastings Mail, North Waikato News and Discovery magazine would close by April 28.
Five more have now been added to the closure list: Wairarapa News, The Tribune, Waiheke Marketplace, Rotorua Review and Ruapehu Press.
Boucher said consultation had begun with the 17 affected staff and 14 roles would be disestablished, spread across commercial and editorial.
‘‘We are working with impacted people to make sure they have the support they need, and that we have closely considered what this will mean for our remaining staff,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s important we all understand that even though some of our smaller community titles are closing we will still cover, both editorially and commercially, these areas. Over coming weeks we will be communicating these changes to our readers and advertisers.
‘‘As we make changes to our portfolio, we are very focused on driving our customers and audience onto the Neighbourly platform, as our home of local journalism. We have implemented a significant communications plan to support this and it’s been heartening to see the success in recent weeks.
‘‘With over 555,000 members, Neighbourly is cementing its place as the thirdlargest social network in the country.’’
Boucher said work was still under way on the other 18 papers. Stuff was working through expressions of interest and conducting negotiations where appropriate.
‘‘We will know by the third week of May what is happening with the remaining titles and will provide another update then. Please keep in mind that we are committed to our plan to sell or close the original list of 28 mastheads by the end of the financial year as in the February announcement.’’