APN Australian Regional Media chief executive Warren Bright told ProPrint that closures of the the Gold Coast Mail and Robina Mail and cut-backs at a number of other regional papers came down to “shifting consumer need” toward digital.

“The 35 jobs we will cut will be in editorial and sales, not in production,” he said.

“We print out of both Ballina and Yandina and shifts there will be reshuffled, but no jobs will be lost,” he said.

The changes in December will also see the Daily News, which services the Gold Coast-Tweed region, move to a weekend-only print publication with its price slashed from $1.30 to 50c.

APN Print cut 25 jobs in May this year when it closed its Mackay and Bundaberg print sites, but created 25 jobs at its Warwick facility in June.

APN’s outdoor arm has also been in the media this week, with speculation regarding a possible sale being addressed in a response to the ASX.

“APN clarifies that it is not selling out of Outdoor,” said the release.

‘Rather, it is involved in a process of best determining how the company may expand its Outdoor operations, including potential partnership opportunities. At this stage the process is incomplete. No decision has been made by APN as to whether or not it will proceed.”

Read ProPrint’s interview with APN Outdoor chief executive Richard Herring

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