Media Press goes bust

Media Press, probably the biggest ethnic publisher and printer in the country, has gone into liquidation with debts according to the administrator in the region of $10million. More than 50 staff have lost their jobs in the company, which has been trading since the 1960s.

Confusion surrounded Media Press at the end, with reports that the company had transferred much of its prepress and some printing equipment to a related company, Foreign Language Publications (FLP), in another part of Sydney. However this company has also been closed down by the administrator, Ferrier Hodgson.

Colourful owner of Media Press Theo Skalkos moved the 40-year-old company into the old Diamond Press plant in Alexandria, Sydney, last year, attempting to break out of his traditional coldset market and into commercial colour web. However the move seems to have been a step too far for the seasoned campaigner, who not only published more than 70 ethnic news and soccer newspapers, but also had the Australian license for several overseas radio broadcasters.

Skalkos had snapped up the opportunity to buy the two Baker Perkins webs at Diamond for a knockdown price, and then moved his company into the Diamond site. Ironically the administrator for Diamond Press was also Ferrier Hodgson. In another twist of fate the main beneficiary of Media’s demise is likely to be Spot Press, Sydney’s other big ethnic media printer, and the company that bought the half-size Albert web press at the Diamond auction.

Theo Skalkos is a larger than life character, who arrived as an immigrant from Greece in the 1950s. After spells working in a clothing factory and in harvesting he began a driving school for immigrants like himself. Having had a printing job for his business cards botched he bought an old single colour press and began printing himself, launching a Greek newspaper shortly afterwards. In the following years he built a significant empire printing newspapers for the nation’s immigrant communities, keen to receive news and soccer reports from their home countries. Visitors to his old site were treated to one of the best Moussakas in the country, available every day in the staff canteen.

It would be no surprise if Mr Skalkso re-emerged as a force in ethnic printing at a later date.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required

Advertisement

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Advertisement