A new Broken Hill print weekly has been launched to fill the void left by the closure of the 130-year-old Barrier Daily Truth.

This time around, the publisher is Mildura-based Elliott Newspaper Group (now ENG Media), which produces the Sunraysia Daily, which itself struggled through the pandemic year of 2020, suspending production for a period.

The Barrier Daily Truth – which was published by union-backed Barrier Industrial Council – was less fortunate, and after limping through 2020, finally closed in April this year.

Newcomer to the northern NSW mining city is the Broken Hill Times, as is journalist April Shepherd, who broke off a touring holiday to take on an editorial role at the paper.

In addition to the Times and the Sunraysia Daily, the Lanyon family-owned ENG Media publishes The Guardian in Swan Hill and the Gannawarra Times in north-east Victoria’s Kerang/Cohuna area, as well the monthly North West Farmer.

The Broken Hill Times has a cover price of $3, and is distributed through newsagents, supermarkets, petrol stations and other strategic retail outlets in Broken Hill and in towns such as Silverton, Wilcannia and Menindee. Editorial, advertising and support staff are located in the newspaper’s office in Argent Street.

Production of its first edition was interrupted by storms which caused rolling outages and cut internet.

ENG managing director Ross Lanyon said that with its rich history, Broken Hill deserved a strong, independent newspaper to reflect the vibrancy and resilience of its community. “We are thrilled to be launching Broken Hill Times,” he said.