Queensland’s new digital news website InQueensland has acquired leading lifestyle masthead, The Weekend Edition, to create a dominant digital media force in Queensland.
In a coup for readers and commercial partners, the acquisition creates an audience of 80,000 subscribers and more than 500,000 monthly combined website visitors.
Since launching in February 2020, InQueensland – owned by Australian publishing company Solstice Media – has emerged as a vital news platform in Queensland, attracting some of the state’s most respected journalists as contributors including Dennis Atkins, Katrina Beikoff, Brad Cooper, Craig Johnstone, Madonna King, Rebecca Levingston, Robert MacDonald and John McCarthy.
InQueensland publisher Peter Atkinson said the acquisition of popular lifestyle publication The Weekend Edition created significant benefits.
“InQueensland has amassed a loyal following of readers who are politically aware, interested in business and engaged culturally,” he said.
“The Weekend Edition is a respected and trusted brand in Queensland lifestyle media and this merger perfectly complements our business and current affairs offering.
“Rounding out InQueensland’s Monday to Friday business, political and cultural commentary, The Weekend Edition will become its literal self – a quality weekend supplement for InQueensland readers,” Atkinson added.
The Weekend Edition managing editor Chrisanthi Demos said the merger would strengthen the outlets’ respective offerings and reach, while upholding their shared values of quality independent journalism.
“We’ve been a one-paper town for a long time and this digital amalgamation makes us a force to be reckoned with,” Demos said.
The Weekend Edition was sold by its creator, Carl Lindgren, to Queensland digital print group, ColourChiefs, six years ago.
Coinciding with The Weekend Edition’s 10th anniversary, Demos said the merger heralded a significant new chapter for the popular online publication.
“Carl’s vision was to create an independent media outlet for the people of Queensland, based on his ethos of positive media,” she said.
“InQueensland shares the same editorial ethos for excellence. It’s intelligent, quality journalism, backed by well-formed opinions by experts renowned in their respective fields.
“In joining forces with Solstice Media – an established and respected national publishing company – we unlock a significant national network and engine room that will elevate the opportunity for The Weekend Edition and its partners,” she added.
Atkinson said that the two mastheads would maintain separate online presences for the foreseeable future.
“We have two very strong products and we don’t want to dilute either,” he said.
“Both InQueensland and The Weekend Edition are renowned for their teams’ knowledge of Queensland and the topics that matter most to Queenslanders.
“Our stable of specialist writers and respected columnists write with genuine insight on the big stories affecting our state and this cross-pollination will cement our reputation as a growing, respected media channel,” he added.
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Top image: Chrisanthi Demos and Peter Atkinson