West Australian Newspapers (WAN) has posted a 25 per cent plunge in operating profit to $39.2m, forcing it to continue with cost cutting measures. 

In the 12 months to the end of June WAN also saw revenue drop by 12.4 per cent from $260.9m last year to $228.5m.

This coincided with a 16.5 per cent decline in advertising and a nine per cent decline in circulation. The newspaper’s average weekday circulation once reached 157,000 but now sits at 145,000.

WAN is reportedly looking to reduce costs by downsizing its newsroom. The Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance has confirmed the redundancies of 35 staff at the newspaper with more jobs expected to be slashed. 

In June WAN CEO Chris Wharton revealed via a staff email that an unspecified number of staff cuts would be imminent as parent company Seven West Media prepared to acquire News Corp’s The Sunday Times.

In its results statement, the company flagged the acquisition as a positive move for its newspaper division.  

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