Guardian Australia

Guardian Australia is the Australian presence of the global online publication and British print newspaper, The Guardian.

Guardian Australia
TypeOnline newspaper
Owner(s)Guardian Media Group
Editor-in-chiefLenore Taylor
Deputy editorDavid Munk
Founded2013 (2013)
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersFoster Street, Sydney, Australia
Sister newspapersThe Guardian, Guardian US, Guardian New Zealand
Websitewww.theguardian.com/au

Available solely in an online format, the newspaper's launch was led by Katharine Viner in time for the 2013 Australian federal election and followed the introduction of Guardian US in 2011. As with other Guardian Media Group publications, Guardian Australia is ultimately owned by The Scott Trust, which aims to stay independent and free from 'commercial pressures'.[1] The online publication relies on digital advertising and voluntary reader donations or subscriptions for revenue, eschewing enforced paywalls implemented by other news websites.[2]

Guardian Australia is only available online, although Guardian Weekly is also available in print edition.

Guardian Australia's headquarters is based in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, with bureaux in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. It employs over 80 journalists, editors and other personnel as of 2018, including editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor who assumed responsibilities in 2016.[3]

Prior to its 2013 launch the British edition of the website was already popular with Australian audiences, with over 1.3 million users per month helping it rank just outside the top 10 most-visited news websites in Australia.[4] Guardian Australia has subsequently become one of the top 5 most visited news websites in the country.[5]

History

Following an investment from businessman Graeme Wood prompted by Malcolm Turnbull,[6] Guardian Australia was launched on 27 May 2013 in the lead-up to the 2013 Australian federal election.[7][8] The British team was joined by local journalists, some of whom previously worked at News Corp Australia and Fairfax Media, including Lenore Taylor, Katherine Murphy and David Marr.[9]

The Guardian Australia has a Comment is Free section edited by Gabrielle Jackson featuring opinion pieces from regular writers, politicians, other public figures and members of the public.[10]

In 2016, it was announced that the then political editor Lenore Taylor would take over the editorship following the end of Emily Wilson's tenure.[11]

In May 2017, as part of a confidential legal settlement, Guardian Australia issued an apology to Noel Pearson over a story they published in January 2017, which made defamatory claims. The newspaper said it "accepts that the comments regarding Mr Noel Pearson in that article were false, [...] unreservedly retracts the statements made in the article regarding Mr Noel Pearson and apologises for the harm and distress caused to him."[12]

Guardian Australia turned its first profit after five years of operations with a balance of $700,000 in financial year 2017-2018. Previously, the online publication posted a loss of A$7.5 million against a revenue of A$3.79 million in 2013–2014, a loss of A$6 million in 2014-2015 and a loss of A$14 million in 2015–2016.[13][14]

Ownership

The Guardian Australia is owned by Guardian News and Media (GNM). GNM is owned by Guardian Media Group (GMG), which is in turn owned by the Scott Trust Limited, a limited company which aims to ensure the editorial independence of its publications and websites.[15]

References
  1. "The Scott Trust: values and history". the Guardian. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  2. "Guardian Australia says no to paywall and print edition". mediaweek.com.au. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  3. "Guardian Australia – meet the team". the Guardian. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  4. "Guardian to launch Australian online edition". ABC News. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. "Nielsen swings continue as publishers seek to improve measurement coverage". Mumbrella. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. Taylor, Lenore (16 April 2020). "Guardian Australia owes Malcolm Turnbull thanks – but not favours | Lenore Taylor". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  7. Murrell, Colleen (1 March 2016). "The Guardian's costly gap between traffic and profits". Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  8. Sweney, Mark (27 May 2013). "Guardian Australia launches with promise of 'fresh and independent view'". The Guardian.
  9. "Guardian Australia primed and ready". B&T. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  10. Christensen, Nic (27 May 2013). "The Guardian launches its Australian digital edition". Mumbrella. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  11. Mitchell, Georgina (20 May 2016). "Lenore Taylor named new editor of Guardian Australia". Victor Harbor Times. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  12. "Apology to Noel Pearson". Guardian Australia. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  13. "Guardian Australia loses $7.5m, despite readership gains". NewsMediaWorks. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  14. Davidson, Darren (20 May 2016). "Guardian appoints new editor to loss-making Australian site". The Australian. Retrieved 22 December 2016.(subscription required)
  15. "Guardian Media Group". Gmgplc.co.uk. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
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