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The Record, Western Australia’s Catholic newspaper, which was established in 1874, put out its final edition on July 23.
The Record was Australia’s oldest weekly newspaper.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the decision to close the newspaper was reached after a five-month review with stakeholders, following a protracted decline in subscriptions.
“Change is sometimes difficult and there will be many people who will be sorry to see The Record in its present form no longer appear each week in our churches,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“If our goal is to use the media to spread the message of Jesus, we must try new methods and set out in new directions.”
The Record will be replaced by a monthly magazine as well as newsletters.
From early September, a new e-newsletter, together with a printed four-page newsletter, will deliver news and events for the archdiocese.
The printed newsletter will be emailed directly to parishes for printing and distribution, while the e-newsletter, which will include similar content, can be sent directly to a recipient’s email inbox.
The magazine and the newsletters will be edited by the archdiocese’s newly-established media and communications team led by James Parker.
Mr Parker said contracted staff would keep their jobs and temporary staff had been offered further opportunities.
He said the ever-increasing digital age does not mean a decrease in the quality or quantity of content.
A goal of the new approach is to deepen engagement with society, Mr Parker said.
Archbishop Costelloe said work will be done to make the archdiocesan website more attractive to a wider group of people, including the young.
He said many such people are far more likely to use the Internet to access news and information than they are to read a weekly newspaper.
The archbishop acknowledged that not everyone has access to the Internet or is comfortable using digital technology.
This is why the printed newsletter option from parishes is to be made available.
Sources
- Herald Sun
- The Record
- Image: The Record
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