Regional newspapers still battling for relevance in 2010

From the Australian Newspaper History Group October 2010 newsletter produced by Rod Kirkpatrick:

Four regional dailies had double-figure percentage declines in circulation for the three or six-month period to 30 June, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. They were: the Standard, Warrnambool, 16.45; the Gold Coast Bulletin, 15.31 per cent; the North West Star, Mount Isa, 12.98; and the Geelong Advertiser, 11.56. And the Townsville Bulletin, down 9.95 per cent, was only a whisker short of a double-figure dip. Three of these papers are big dailies, not based in areas where there is a population slump.

The table below from this same newsletter shows that newspapers on the NSW North Coast continue to lose circulation as they battle to retain relevance for local readers.

Diversity with regard to range and editorial stance is important for regional media - whether it is print or digital, produced by professional journalists or bloggers.

While local newspapers urgently need to break out of parent company moulds which often simply clone the news across their banners and apparently encourage journalists to go for cheap regurgitation of media releases; readers also need to keep purchasing these papers as a way of encouraging regional journalism and protecting their own ability to access all shades of opinion on regional, state and national issues.

Buy a local newspaper today.

And they're off! 2009 Grafton to Inverell Cycling Classic underway tomorrow, 12 September 2009

The 49th edition of the Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic will be held tomorrow, 12 September 2009 starting from Market Square, Pound Street, Grafton at 8am through to 8.30am.

Billed as the toughest one day race in Australia, the category one event will have a record 272 cyclists in three grades contesting the nine hour long 228km course.

There prize pool contains a total $27,000 in cash plus prizes and random draws.

The race can be listened to online at www.2nz.com.au

According to Cycling News:

Some of the elite men's teams already committed for the 228km event include Fly V Australia, Dixon Homes, Praties, Team Budget Forklifts, HYPE, Mace-McDonagh Blake and Shortis Cycle & Tri.
Cameron Jennings, Peter Herzig and Peter Ladd (all Team Budget Fork lifts) and Tour de Geelong winner Darren Rolfetheir and Bernard Sulzberger, Ben King, Jonathon Cantwell (Fly V) are among those registered. The race also sometimes draws talented off-road racers. World 24-hour solo mountain bike champion Jason English will try his luck on the road this year after cross country star Chris Jongewaard finished second last year.Whilst the focus may be on the pointy end of the race in the elite division, organisers were thrilled to receive 142 entries in the master categories. The Under 23s will also have strong representation with riders from as far away as New Zealand, Launceston, Hobart, Fremantle and Rockhampton.
As for women's competition, the numbers are also up in the second running of the Celtic Country Classic de Femme with 36 women from across the country competing in this year's 95km event.

For more information http://www.graftontoinverellcycleclassic.com.au/