The Courier returns

TIMES NEWS GROUP

The Courier (Narrabri Shire) returns today after a month-long absence that many feared would become permanent.

When the Courier, Gunnedah Times and Wee Waa News published their final editions on 7 May, generations of readers were left wondering whether their local newspapers had reached the end of the road.

Instead, today marks a new beginning.

The Courier is now part of Times News Group, with local journalists continuing to cover the people, places and issues that matter to Narrabri Shire.

For more than a century, the Courier has recorded the history of Narrabri Shire as it happened. It has reported on droughts and floods, elections and council decisions, sporting triumphs, school achievements, community events and the everyday stories that help define the region.

Times News Group managing director Warick Brown said preserving that role was the driving force behind the acquisition.

“When a local newspaper closes, communities lose far more than a publication,”
he said.

“They lose a watchdog, a storyteller, a historical record and one of the few institutions dedicated entirely to covering local issues.

“We believed these newspapers were too important to lose.”
Brown said readers would see the newspaper continue to evolve in the months ahead.

“Rebuilding a local newspaper takes time,” he said.

“We won’t bring everything back overnight, but we are committed to investing in local journalism and growing the publication over time.

“Our goal is to build a strong, sustainable newspaper that can serve Narrabri Shire for many years to come.”

The company operates 17 regional newspaper mastheads across Australia and says maintaining the local identity of each publication will remain a priority.

The Courier will continue to focus on local news, agriculture, business, sport and community coverage while
also expanding its digital presence.

Like community newspapers across regional Australia, its future will rely on the support of readers, advertisers, sporting clubs, schools, community groups and businesses.

Every subscription, newspaper purchase, advertisement and story tip helps ensure that local journalism remains part of the community’s future.