WE’RE STILL OPENPAGE

The Chronicle is committed to bringing you your newspaper

READERS will have heard the news yesterday that massive changes will take place in News Corp’s regional and community mastheads. Many will close their print editions and focus solely on online news. It will result in many job losses.

That will NOT be happening in Toowoomba.

The Chronicle will continue with its print edition as well as our everincreasing online presence.

We have been the primary source of news for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs for 159 years.

We plan to be here for another 159 years or more.

The Chronicle continues to reach a large audience across our region via both print and digital editions. Our print edition alone reach an average of 38,000 people daily. It’s due to the strength of our newsroom, our strong relationships with advertisers and our ability to reach large audiences that we will continue to publish both print and digital editions into the future.

I’d like to pay credit to our business community who continue to support The Chronicle. Our teams are committed and look forward to working with you by ensuring your advertising message reaches and engages with our large audience no matter their preference for catching up with local news in print or online.

ALL of us at The Chronicle are passionate about Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

Like you, we live here, we’re locals, we are your neighbours, we are your friends. Like you, we love this community and the issues that matter to you, matter to us.

As editor, I can assure you I’m not going anywhere. I will remain one of us - a part of our community - and I want to thank you for continuing to turn to The Chronicle for news and information you can trust.

Since 1861, we’ve always told the stories important to our community - the good, the bad, the triumphs, the yarns that make this such a special place.

Important news such as the devastation of the 2011 floods and the massive recovery program. Important news like our push for the $1.6 billion Second Range Crossing.

And the campaigns we’ve led on your behalf like the push for the Qantas pilot academy and the support for Wellcamp Airport – which has opened Toowoomba up to the world.

We continue to push for the State Government to approve stage three of New Hope’s New Acland Mine – and the 487 jobs it will bring.

We’ve championed and advocated for you. We’ve not been afraid to hold those in power to account and we’ve always done so when you’ve deserved a fairer go, a better deal.

You will have heard that many printed versions of regional and community News Corp mastheads will be turning completely digital.

That will NOT be happening to The Chronicle.

We are open, have been for the past 159 years, and are planning to be here for another 159 years - or more.

Our print production will continue to combine with our amazing online digital service to bring you all the news that you demand.

We also won’t stop listening to you and, as editor, I will be encouraging greater interactivity to allow you to actively participate in telling your own stories. We want to hear from you via comments, emails and letters your thoughts on the issues that matter to you.

I also want to thank our local businesses for their support. Many of you, particularly small and medium sized, have moved online and we are here to help you advertise and market your services and products. Like everyone in Toowoomba, we want you to succeed - your success makes our community stronger and creates the local jobs we need.

The world is changing and so we are. But what isn’t changing is that we will still be here for Toowoomba and the

Downs.

Unlike a lot of other media, our journalists will continue to live and work here. Like you, they will always be part of and always passionate about this community.

Your support for us will mean we can continue to serve you and ensure the local news and information that helps you in your daily lives continues to be well resourced.

Our dedication to bring you trusted news and information is undiminished.

Because, when it matters most, we’re for you.

Editor