Editorial

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

We sincerely hope you haven't noticed ... but today marks a big change for your favourite daily newspaper.

This edition of the Chronicle is the first one printed at a new plant in Hawke's Bay. Saturday's paper was the last one printed in Wanganui, bringing to an end a run of more than 150 years.

The Chronicle's parent company, APN, is closing the Taupo Quay print works and centring its North Island operation in Hastings.

Our readers should not see any difference - the Chronicle should still be in your letterbox and in the shops bright and early and as fit and fine as ever.

But some will notice the change. The human cost in the decision to print in Hastings is the loss of 13 full and part-time jobs and some casual positions, meaning the Chronicle's new dawn is also a sad occasion.

Even though the decision to centralise printing in Hastings makes sound business sense, it is always regrettable when people lose their jobs. In the past, the Chronicle has railed against job losses in the district ... now we find ourselves on the other side of that unfortunate fence.

The Chronicle will still, of course, have its editorial and advertising staff based in the heart of Wanganui - almost 40 people in total - and our news coverage and customer service will be as local and personal as ever.

The closure of the print works has prompted some to join that occasional chorus that sings of the demise of newspapers. They are wrong. The truth is newspaper brands are getting stronger as they combine their print product with their online presence.

New technology has just been unveiled in Australia that measures newspaper readership across all platforms (print, online, mobile phone, tablet) and the figures are tracking upwards.

Likewise, on average, the Chronicle paper enjoys a readership of 30,000 people aged 15 and over every day, and our online audience is growing by the month, which is why we remain the dominant news provider in the region.