Defence Force newspapers will continue to be printed by Horton Media after the company’s performance proved worthy securing it a $490,000 one-year extension to the contract in won in 2013 from Fairfax. The trans-Tasman coldest specialist will print, package and label Army News, Navy News and Air Force News.

The newspapers have a combined fortnightly print run of 45,000 copies. Army News is a 36-page publication while the others are 28 pages each. Matthew Horton, CEO of the company, which claims to be the biggest independent contract newspaper printer in Australasia, says high print quality and service along with its Queensland location being close to many big defence bases are the reasons for it winning the lucrative contract. Horton says, “This is a big contract for us that is worth a lot of money for a high profile client. We value it highly and have developed a great relationship with Defence. “The reality is we are dedicated commercial printers in the coldset field. We are not a publisher that does a bit on the side.” He says all the company’s investments are designed specifically to suit those jobs and do them in an optimal way. The jobs are printed at its Brisbane factory on a four-tower Goss Community press, which can produce 35,000 copies an hour. Toll Priority and Australia Post hold the distribution contracts for the newspapers to Defence bases throughout Australia and to personnel deployed overseas. Most of the company clients are in the private sector for community newspapers, special interest groups, and religious institutions, Horton says. The company also prints magazines, catalogues, directories, and marketing collateral, and is a wining contender at Swug Awards each year.

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