Citizendia

The West Australian logo
Image:West Australian front page 12-12-2005.jpg

Front page of The West Australian
on 12 December 2005
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatTabloid
OwnerWest Australian Newspapers Limited
EditorPaul Armstrong
Founded1833
Headquarters50 Hasler Road,
Osborne Park, WA, Australia
Website: www.thewest.com.au

The West Australian (often simply called The West) is Perth's only locally edited daily newspaper, and is owned by ASX-listed West Australian Newspapers Holdings Ltd. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. A tabloid is a Newspaper industry term which refers to a smaller newspaper format per spread to a weekly or semi-weekly alternative newspaper that focuses on local-interest Paul Armstrong (born 5 October 1978 in Dublin) is an Irish footballer currently playing for Eastbourne Borough in the Conference Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Osborne Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling. Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. The Australian Securities Exchange ( ASX) is the primary Stock exchange in Australia.

It is the second-oldest continuously produced newspaper in Australia, having been published since 1833. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common It currently has a weekday circulation of 200,000, and a weekend circulation of 370,000 with its Saturday edition. [1]

The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication. A tabloid is a Newspaper industry term which refers to a smaller newspaper format per spread to a weekly or semi-weekly alternative newspaper that focuses on local-interest The Sunday Times is a News Corporation owned Sunday Tabloid newspaper distributed throughout Western Australia. News Limited was the principal holding for the business interests of Rupert Murdoch until the formation of News Corporation in 1979

The West is politically populist, with strong conservative leanings. Populism is a discourse which supports "the people" versus "the Elites " Populism may involve either a political philosophy urging social and political Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined It was described by former Prime Minister of Australia Paul Keating as the worst newspaper in Australia. The Prime Minister of Australia is the Head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944 was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, from 1991 to 1996

Contents

Content

The newspaper contains international, national and local news.

Contemporary columnists include Paul Murray (previously the managing editor of the newspaper) and Danny Katz (a Melbourne-based columnist for The Age newspaper whose column is also bought by The West). Paul Murray was the morning presenter on Perth radio station 6PR until March 2006 when he failed to reach agreement with station management on a new contract

The paper also publishes the WestWeekend Magazine which is inserted in the Saturday edition.

History

The West Australian traces its origins to The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal, the first edition of which appeared on 5 January 1833. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Owned and edited by Perth postmaster Charles Macfaull, it was originally a four page weekly. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Postmaster (or Postmistress) refers to the head of an individual Post office. [2] It was at first published on Saturdays, but changed to Fridays in 1864. Eventually renamed The Perth Gazette and published by Arthur Shenton, it ran until 26 June 1874, when it was bought out by a syndicate who renamed it The Western Australian Times and increased production to two editions a week. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common On 18 November 1879, the paper was relaunched as The West Australian. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In October 1883, production was increased to three a week, and two years later it became a daily. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The proprietors of the West Australian at the time also started up the Western Mail in 1885. The Western Mail, or Western Mail, was the name of two weekly newspapers published in Perth Western Australia. Initially, delivery of the paper beyond settled areas was a major problem, but the growth and development of the rural railway system in the early 1900s facilitated a wider circulation.

Notable former journalists

  • Athol Thomas
  • David Williams
  • Dame Mary Durack (Used the nom-de-plume "Virgilia". Piers Akerman (born June 1950 is a conservative columnist for the Australian News Limited Newspaper Estelle Blackburn (born 1 March 1950) is a journalist who has played a crucial role in the review of some controversial criminal cases in Western Australia Brian Thomas Burke (born in Perth, 25 February 1947 was Labor Premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988 Robert Duncan Drewe (born 9 January 1943) is an Australian journalist novelist and short story writer Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck KG GCMG GCVO (1 April 1905&ndash9 January 1993 was an Australian historian poet public servant and Catherine Martin was a Journalist for The West Australian newspaper from 1957 specialising in medical reporting David Williams was a Journalist with The West Australian in Perth, Western Australia. Mary Durack, ( 20 February 1913 &ndash 16 December 1994) was an Australian Author and Historian. )

Location

The location of the West Australian Newspaper offices and operations on St Georges Terrace across the road from the Palace Hotel was a significant landmark for over 50 years in the social and political life of Perth and Western Australia. St Georges Terrace is the main Street in the city of Perth Western Australia. [3] It was not until 1988 that larger and more modern premises, for the paper's printing presses, were established in Osborne Park [4] - but it was another 10 years before the editorial aspect of the newspaper moved to the same location [5][6]

Corporate ownership history

The West Australian was owned by the publically listed company West Australian Newspapers Ltd since the 1920s. Osborne Park is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling. In 1969 the Melbourne based The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd bought WAN and published the paper until 1987 when it was sold to Robert Holmes à Court's Bell Group in 1987 when the remainder of H&WT was bought by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. The Herald and Weekly Times Limited ( HWT) is a Newspaper publishing company based in Melbourne, Australia. is gay Bold text' Keith Rupert Murdoch', AC, KCSG (born Melbourne, March 11 1931 usually known as Rupert Murdoch, is an Australian-American News Corporation (often abbreviated to News Corp) (,,) is one of the world's largest media conglomerate companies by Market capitalisation [7] The following year Alan Bond, through Bond Corporation, gained control of Bell Group and hence the paper. Alan Bond (born 22 April 1938 is a notorious Australian businessman famous for high-profile business ventures including what was at the time the biggest corporate collapse This ownership arrangement only lasted a few years until Bond Corp collapsed and a newly formed company, West Australian Newspapers Holdings purchased the paper from the receivers before being floated in an oversubscribed $185 million public offering. Initial public offering (IPO, also referred to simply as a "public offering" is when a company issues Common stock or shares to the public for the first [8]

West Australian Newspapers Holdings Ltd

West Australian Newspapers Holdings Limited is currently listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:WAN) with the largest current single shareholder being Seven Network Limited with 19. The Australian Securities Exchange ( ASX) is the primary Stock exchange in Australia. The Australian Securities Exchange ( ASX) is the primary Stock exchange in Australia. Seven Network Limited, or Seven, is one of Australia 's major media companies 4% equity. As well as the newspaper as its major asset, the company holds a number of other strategic and important media outlets.

In September 2007 WAN sold its 50% interest in the Hoyts Cinemas Group which operates 55 cinemas in Australia and New Zealand including Hoyts Film Distribution and Val Morgan Cinema Advertising to a private equity firm. The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan In Finance, private equity is an Asset class consisting of equity Securities in operating companies that are not Publicly traded on [10]

2007 Controversy

In May 2007, the state Attorney-General Jim McGinty described the newspaper as "the nation's most inaccurate and dishonest newspaper". In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition James Andrew "Jim" McGinty (born 22 September, 1949) is an Australian politician He went on to attack the editor, Paul Armstrong, saying that "the board of West Australian Newspapers needs to sack the editor. Paul Armstrong (born 5 October 1978 in Dublin) is an Irish footballer currently playing for Eastbourne Borough in the Conference It is personally driven by a particular individual". Armstrong responded by saying he "could not give a fat rat's arse" about Mr McGinty's comments. [11]

The exchange was prompted by a caption below a photograph in the 24 January 2007 edition of the paper showing a female patient, incorrectly described as elderly and lying across three seats in a casualty waiting room at one of Perth's public hospitals which McGinty saw as portraying an incorrect impression of the health system. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Canvassing by the Australian media industry for the removal of restrictions on free speech in the national 'Right to Know' campaign is currently underway and state legislation supporting the national legislative changes is seen as essential in making the new federal laws workable. Some of the comments made by McGinty and the Premier, Alan Carpenter alluded to a threat of withholding the required state legislation unless the newspaper addressed the Government's complaints. The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. Alan John Carpenter (born 4 January 1957 Australian politician was the 28th Premier of Western Australia from 26 January 2006 until 23 September 2008 [12]

On 15 February 2008, The West Australian today reported that Health Minister and Attorney General Jim McGinty's staff have effectively banned West Australian Newspaper reporters from attending his press conferences. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common This was following ongoing conflicts between Mr McGinty and The West Australian Newspaper.

Refresh The West

On 25th Feb 2008, Seven Network Limited released a statement requesting West Australian Newspapers Holdings Limited (WAN) to call an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders at which it will put resolutions for the removal of all Non-Executive directors.

Chairman of Seven Network Limited, Mr. Kerry Stokes said "We have been appalled at the lack of leadership of the Board and the resulting performance of the company. Financially the reduction in the current dividend is symptomatic of the Board's performance. it is the only major media company in Australia forced to reduce its dividend payment, even against a strong local economy".

On 5 March, the Seven Network has launched a new website directly targeting the board of West Australian Newspaper Holdings (WAN). The website, www.refreshthewest.com.au, said that WAN "can do better for its shareholders".

The campaign failed.

175th Anniversary

As part of its anniversary the newspaper began producing a special 32 page commemorative magazine titled 175 Years of Headlines - the first produced on the 15th May 2008 - being for the period 1833-1857.


See also


External link

References

  1. ^ "Fairfax March2006 circulation release", 20 April 2006. This is a list of Australian newspapers National National daily newspapers The Australian Broadsheet conservative-leaning Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Retrieved on 2006-10-27. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.  
  2. ^ The West Australian, 17 November 1979, p. 39
  3. ^ SLWA Online Catalogue /All Locations
  4. ^ Newspaper House - building in Perth to be vacated by the West Australian from March 1988, photographs and reminiscences Newspaper House news, March 1988, p. 1+
  5. ^ http://www.australian-media.com.au/index.php?c=home&p=news&article=7823
  6. ^ http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=54542
  7. ^ Bond, Bell and Holmes a Court:Bell
  8. ^ 175 years of The West Australian
  9. ^ "The Quokka": about us
  10. ^ [http://www.bandt.com.au/news/60/0c050860.asp PBL and WAN sell Hoyts for $440m
  11. ^ Chris Merritt. "Fire editor or 'no shield'", perthnow (news. com. au), May 17, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus.  
  12. ^ Margaret Simons. "Paul Armstrong: the wild West Australian under attack", crikey. com. au, 22 May 2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus.  

Further reading

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