NEWS Corp Australia has announced today there will be significant changes to its Australian media titles. As a result, many of its NSW and Queensland mastheads will become digital only publications.

The changes will involve numerous North Coast publications.

These include major newspapers: Tweed Daily News, Ballina Advocate, Byron Shire News, Coffs Coast Advocate, Grafton Daily Examiner and Lismore Northern Star.

In addition, small print mastheads to cease their printed editions include: Coastal Views, Northern Rivers Echo and Richmond River Express Examiner.

News Corp Australasia, Executive Chairman Mr Michael Miller, said today that over recent months News Corp had undertaken a comprehensive review of its regional and community newspapers.

News Corp Australia say the review considered the ongoing consumer shift to reading and subscribing to news online, and the acceleration of businesses using digital advertising.

Mr Miller said that “Consequently, to meet these changing trends, we are reshaping News Corp Australia to focus on where consumers and businesses are moving and to strengthen our position as Australia’s leading digital news media company.

“This will involve employing more digital only journalists and making investments in digital advertising and marketing solutions for our partners,” he said.

Mr Miller said the portfolio changes being implemented would mean that from Monday June 29 the bulk of News Corp’s regional and community titles would move to purely digital publishing and 375 journalists will cover regional and community news.