A new printing press secured by POST newspapers has prompted discussions of reviving other mastheads, including The Australian Financial Review.
A new printing press secured by Post Newspapers has prompted discussions of reviving other mastheads, including The Australian Financial Review.
Western Suburbs-focused The Post last week announced it would soon print its own editions after securing a high-speed newspaper press from the United States.
Once installed, it will be the only rotary newspaper press in the state outside of Colourpress, a WA Newspapers-run facility in Herdsman, under Seven West Media.
The Examiner editor Tim Mayne confirmed that a contract has been signed between the suburban newspaper group and The Post.
Mr Mayne told Business News that it would be cheaper and would allow The Examiner to print more newspapers.
“We had a good relationship with Colourpress but competition and choice is a good thing, and it’s good to be able to support independent media,” he said.
Business News understands The Post reached out to Nine to sound out its interest in printing the Australian Financial Review at its new print press but no discussions have taken place.
Last year, Nine announced it would pull its print editions of the AFR from Perth after Seven West Media demanded a new contract that doubled the cost of printing.
The media outlet called it a "targeted attack on the Financial Review" by Seven-owned Colourpress, the only printer of major newspapers in WA.
First copies of The Post with the new press are set to be printed in the new financial year, with the press in the final stages of installation.
In an announcement last week, Post Newspapers editor Bret Christian said planning for the new project started when the printing press in Mandurah closed two years ago.
IVE Group announced to its clients that the Mandurah press on Rafferty Close will shut its doors in 2023.
The Mandurah facility was one of only two commercial printing presses in the state, with the other owned by Seven West Media.
The lack of competition in this sector has raised concerns and accusations among media outlets.
In mid-2023, the AFR claimed it had the exclusive on the separation of billionaire power couple Andrew and Nicola Forrest but was pipped to the post by SWM’s The West Australian.
Business News reported that the electronic files for the printing of the newspaper were sent to SWM's printing press, which is located alongside The West Australian office in Herdsman, about 5.30pm on July 10.
It is understood The West Australian made calls to Tattarang's media team that afternoon.
Sources at Nine say it had the story about the Forrest split exclusively but it was taken by The West Australian from the AFR's newspaper before it had been publicly released.
SWM printed the AFR for the WA market at its Herdsman headquarters, with no other commercial newspaper printing option existing in WA.
