News Corp Australia is bringing back three community newspapers as demand from advertisers, particularly in real estate, lifts.
The Wentworth Courier, The Mosman Daily and North Shore Times will resume printing from this week, according to The Australian, after being online-only since April due to strict coronavirus restrictions which caused advertising revenue to dry up.
The newspapers, which reach 85% of households in Sydney’s eastern and northern suburbs, have received strong interest from real estate agencies, retailers and councils following the easing of restrictions across NSW.
“They’ve got a very strong brand, they’ve got high readership and engagement. And it’s an audience our advertisers like,” says News Corp Australia general manager of real estate Clare Starling.
In particular, the strength of the real estate market in Sydney’s north and east, despite the pandemic, has driven the return of the newspapers.
“So far they’ve been extremely resilient,” says Tim McIntyre, the editor of the three community newspapers.
“There was probably a brief moment where some price expectations for house sales came down slightly. But since then, they’re back and they’re back with a boom.
“COVID is a part of society now; we’ve got to keep moving on and the demand is there to buy and sell property, and to read about beautiful homes in these areas and to show pride in your local areas as well.”
Last week, News Corp Australia announced it would roll out more than 50 digital-only mastheads over the next three years.
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