Vince and Jill Fardone have marked just over 25 years of publishing the ‘Katherine Times’ by selling the 3850-circulation Northern Territory weekly to Fairfax Media.
The couple say it will be “business as usual” for the newspaper, with existing staff remaining and some new local staff sought. Duana Job has been appointed manager, while journalist Tegan Forder has taken on the role of editor.
Through acquisitions including last year’s merger of Rural Press, Fairfax publishes the Mt Isa ‘North West Star’ – previously owned by the Joel family – as well as the ‘North Queensland Register’, ‘Good Fruit & Vegetables’ magazine, ‘Horse Deals’ magazine and ‘Queensland Country Life’.
Chief executive for agricultural publishing Grant Cochrane says Fairfax is excited about the prospect of owning such a strong local newspaper servicing readers and advertisers located in a vibrant region of the Northern Territory.
“We are very keen to build on the good work of Vince and Jill Fardone and their team at the ‘Katherine Times’ by continuing to focus on providing quality editorial representing the interests of readers in the region, offering a valuable conduit for advertisers to reach this important market within the Northern Territory,” he says.
Although “somewhat saddened” by the transition, the Fardones say they wanted to take it easier, and decided after the 25-year milestone, to move on.
“It has been and absolute privilege and honour to have provided a service to readers and advertisers in Katherine and the wider community over a quarter of a century,” says Vince Fardone.
“It is hard to give up something after 25 years but we feel proud and secure to hand over to a media matriach such as Fairfax and we are also proud to have left the day-to-day running of the paper to our capable employees.
“We wish the ‘Times’ success for the next 25 years and, like all of its readers, we will be looking forward to every Wednesday morning picking up a copy to read. We wish Fairfax Media and our now ex staff success for the future.”
The acquisition is effective from Wednesday (October 22). Owner and managing editor Vince Fardone says there had been interest in the paper since Australia’s media laws changed more than two years ago.
“Interest was strong with major players showing interest in acquiring the paper but in the end Rural Press (now Fairfax) persisted and was successful in the acquisition,” he says.
The couple launched the newspaper on June 16, 1983 – having lived in the area since 1972 – and have seen off several competitors and some tough times, including two major floods. In 1998, when editions were running at 40-48 pages – the premises and equipment were destroyed.
“It was very hard to start again, but we were not alone as many other businesses in town had to do the same and together we all resurrected ourselves,” he says.
Eight years later the ‘Times’ was again flooded again, but on neither occasion was an issue missed. “Actually we went twice-weekly for three weeks in 1998, even though it was rather thin at four or eight pages,” Vice Fardone says.
The Katherine Times has won three best newspaper awards, as well as other recognition.
The couple say they will stay in town to further other business interests and “smell the roses” from time to time.
The newspaper’s website recalls that then local MLA Mike Reed offered NT Government assistance for the ‘Times’ to continue, providing it came out twice a week. Its twice-weekly role of cheering community spirit and keeping people informed on emergency matters continued for three weeks. While issues are now typically 32 pages, a 21st birthday issue ran to 80 pages.
Pictured: Chief executive of Fairfax Media’s Agricultural Publishing division
Grant Cochrane with Vince and Jill Fardone and manager ‘North Queensland
Register’ Jim Pola.
