South Australian capital city newspaper The Adelaide Advertiser managed to print its Thursday edition yesterday against all odds during the state’s super storm blackout, thinking on its feet by sending the job to the News Corp printing plant in Melbourne and trucking in the papers.
Unexpected weather troubles which zapped power from the entire state yesterday disabled the newspaper from printing its Thursday paper in its Adelaide print centre from 4pm onwards.
According to the Advertiser, the newsroom was still in operation thanks to a back up generator, but its presses at Mile End were without power and unable to churn out the papers.
As a result, the masthead says it made the ‘unprecedented decision’ to print as many newspapers possible overnight at the News Corp Melbourne print plant and truck it back to Adelaide.
The Advertiser’s marketing and circulation director Dan Demaria says despite its victory in printing enough papers overnight to reach outlets in the city centre by 9am, the paper was still unable to reach regional audiences.
“Regrettably, we have been unable to deliver to our country customers due to the extra delivery time required, or to our home delivery customers given that our Melbourne plant lacks the ability to flat wrap newspapers,” says Demaria.
“Depending when power is restored to the Adelaide Print Centre, we will endeavour to then start the presses to print home delivery newspapers and deliver these throughout Thursday.”
The SA newspaper congratulated staff on their quick thinking and ability to print its Thursday edition without electricity at its main site.
“The Advertiser would not be able to go to these lengths without the commitment of staff here in Adelaide and interstate as well as our newspaper distributor and retailer partners who will work through a wet and windy night,” the paper stated.
“Rain, hail or shine we — and our distribution partners — will get as many newspapers into the hands of as many readers as possible,” adds Demaria.
Yesterday’s storm is also expected to roll into NSW, with fears weather is set to worsen along the Eastern coast line.
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