According to The Age/SMH’s Calum Jaspan, the timing of Taylor’s departure (and the way it was announced) was a shock. It was announced at 5.30pm AEDT on Tuesday this week before her departure the next day. Also staff heard the news via email rather than hearing the news from Taylor herself.
Daily Mail all-in on subscriptions as dynamic paywall experiment goes live
Daily Mail Australia is trialling a dynamic paywall that locks articles for users based on their browsing patterns and likelihood of subscribing.
The move is part of the Mail’s big pivot to subscriptions following the launch of Daily Mail+ in 2024.
Daily Mail Australia managing director Lachlan Heywood told Mumbrella subscriptions are now “a core part of the business” and that the Mail is on track to reach its goal of one million subscribers by October 2028.
Between 10%-15% of articles are currently put behind the paywall. On top of those articles, which are manually selected by the subscriptions editor, the Mail is also experimenting with a dynamic paywall for a small percentage of users.
Three north-west NSW newspapers return
The Narrabri Courier, the Gunnedah Times and the Wee Waa News in north-west NSW will return June 11 under new ownership, a month after publishing final editions.
Independent regional newspaper company the Times News Group has acquired the mastheads.
The acquisition adds to Times News Group’s NSW network, which includes the Byron Coast Times, Ballina Times, Tweed Coast Times and Lismore Times.
Sold by Collective Media (Slack-Smith family) who owned these titles.
The West Australian launches new brand campaign positioning it as the defining voice of the State
The West Australian has unveiled its new brand campaign, “The West Australian is WA”, designed to reinforce its position as the State’s most influential and relevant source of news.
For generations, The West Australian has been the State’s storyteller, reflecting its people, championing its interests and providing a trusted voice in times of change.
Building on this legacy, the new campaign taps into a deep sense of pride, belonging and identity that is uniquely WA, while reaffirming the masthead’s relevance today as the authoritative voice of the State.
The creative leans into WA’s innate parochialism, weaving The West Australian into the fabric of everyday life, from iconic landscapes to defining moments that shape the State. It reinforces the brand not just as a source of news but as an enduring symbol of Western Australia itself.
Chief Executive Officer, Maryna Fewster, said: “With a legacy spanning more than 190 years, The West Australian continues to evolve while staying true to our purpose.
“This campaign reflects our commitment to telling Western Australia’s stories with pride, relevance and impact, creating lasting value for our readers and partners.”
Editor in Chief, Christopher Dore, said: “The West Australian is built on the quality of its journalism and the people who produce it – reporters and photographers who understand WA because they live it.
“They ask the hard questions and tell the stories that matter with depth, fairness and relevance. That is what gives the brand its meaning and authority.”
Chief Marketing Officer, Nerida Collins, said: “This campaign captures the emotional connection West Australians have with both the State and the brand.
“It gives us a strong, unmistakable way to show up across every channel, building recognition and encouraging audiences to engage more often and more meaningfully with The West Australian across print and digital.”
“The West Australian is WA” will be brought to life through a multi-channel rollout across print, digital, social, video and out-of-home.
The West Australian is part of Southern Cross Media Group. The new campaign was created by Seven West Media Creative.
Chief Marketing Officer: Nerida Collins
Head of Brand and Marketing: Corinna Conte
Creative Manager: Jessica Hankinson
Lead Graphic Designer: Daniel Johnson
Manager and Senior Producer, On-Air Promotions: Lal Perera
Motion Graphics Artist: Luke Griffiths
Audio Director: Jarrad Kidd
Music Composition and Production: Blake Williams and Brodie Stewart
Really? I would not have guessed judging by the name of the paper… 
Vinyl Group to acquire Time Out Australia
Another day, another acquisition from Vinyl Group. Following yesterday’s takeover of Pedestrian, the media group has announced its acquisition of the Time Out Australia brand.
The acquisition, while also for a “nominal consideration”, is much closer to a franchise than the Pedestrian deal, with an ongoing royalty to be paid to Time Out in the UK.
David Munk, who spent five years as the deputy editor of The Guardian Australia under Taylor, has been appointed as her replacement on a full-time basis.
Hunter River Times to cease publication
Katina Curtis, The West Australian’s Canberra bureau chief is off to start a gig as senior political correspondent at online upstart Capital Brief, which is revving up its presence in the press gallery.
Curtis, who is vice-president of the Press Gallery Committee and previously worked for this masthead, is a well-respected presence in the Canberra bubble. We hear she left of her own volition, and wasn’t caught up in the latest round of job cuts at Southern Cross.
Today Stuff Group has launched New Zealand’s largest national local news network, Neighbourly News - 18 hyper-engaging, hyper-local websites built on local love.
Led by senior Editor Bernadette Courtney, Neighbourly News is upbeat and uplifting community news from the Auckland suburbs down to Invercargill.
“These are not the community papers of old,” Bernadette says. “They are a reflection of what people talk about in their neighbourhoods. What’s opening, growing, happening and energising locals in a really positive way.” You can find your 'hood through www.neighbourlynews.co.nz.
And while it’s 18 sites across the nation now, we’ll be looking to expand into more communities where there is demand.
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