Seven West Media has bought the 50.1% of WA’s Community News owned by News Corp Australia.
This marks the second major investment in print recently following Antony Catalano’s purchase of Nine Entertainment’s Australian Community Media.
Community News, which has been run as a joint venture between Seven West and News Corp, will be based at SWM WA’s headquarters in Osborne Park effective from July 1.
Community News’ 23 titles, which include Western Suburbs Weekly, Joondalup Times, Fremantle Gazette and The Advocate, will be added to Seven West’s existing stable of The West Australian, The Sunday Times, The Kalgoorlie Miner, Countryman and more than a dozen regional titles across the state.
“Seven West Media is now delighted to announce that we will be acquiring the remaining shares that it does not already own in Community News, a business with deep connections and engagement within the local communities of Perth and Mandurah,” SWM WA chief executive Maryna Fewster (Pictured) said in an email to SWM staff.
“Seven West Media ownership of Community News will officially commence today. Community News is a business that we are very familiar with and we know that it will complement our existing audiences and media assets in Western Australia.
“As part of the acquisition, we will be relocating the current operations from Stirling Street Perth to our offices in Osborne Park in late June.”
SWM WA chief operating officer Adam Everett will oversee the new business, working with Community Newspaper group chief executive Paul Eteen-Bliss.