Guardian Australia Explained

Guardian Australia
Type:Online newspaper
Editor:Lenore Taylor
Depeditor:David Munk
Owners:Guardian Media Group
Headquarters:Foster Street, Sydney, Australia
Sister Newspapers:The Guardian, Guardian US, Guardian New Zealand
Language:English
Publishing Country:Australia
Photoeditor:Carly Earl
Opeditor:Svetlana Stankovic
Sportseditor:Mike Hytner
Dirinteractive:Nick Evershed
Assoceditor:Shelley Hepworth
Newseditor:Josephine Tovey
Maneditor:Alison Rourke
Depeditor:Gabrielle Jackson and Patrick Keneally -->

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

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. Guardian Australia is owned by Guardian Media Group, which is in turn 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 Australias headquarters is based in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, with bureaux in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. It employs more than 70 journalists, editors and other personnel as of 2020, including editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor who assumed responsibilities in 2016.[3]

History

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] In June 2018[5] and July 2021,[6] Guardian Australia was ranked No. 5 among news websites in Australia.

Following an investment from businessman Graeme Wood, prompted by Malcolm Turnbull,[7] Guardian Australia was launched on 27 May 2013 in the lead-up to the 2013 federal election. 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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

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 "The Guardian Australia accepts that the comments regarding Mr Noel Pearson in that article were false. The Guardian Australia unreservedly retracts the statements made in the article regarding Mr Noel Pearson and apologises for the harm and distress caused to him."[11]

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 7.5 million against a revenue of 3.79 million in 2013–2014, a loss of 6 million in 2014–2015 and a loss of 14 million in 2015–2016.[12] [13] [14] [15]

Ownership

Guardian Australia is owned by Guardian Media Group, which is in turn owned by the Scott Trust, a limited company which aims to ensure the editorial independence of its publications and websites.[16]

Editorial stance

Guardian Australia endorsed the Labor Party and the Greens for the 2019 Australian federal election,[17] for the 2022 Australian federal election it endorsed the Labor Party, the Greens and the Teal independents.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Scott Trust: values and history. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004020741/https://www.theguardian.com/the-scott-trust/2015/jul/26/the-scott-trust. 4 October 2024. live. 26 July 2015. The Guardian. 31 July 2018.
  2. Web site: Guardian Australia says no to paywall and print edition. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004020939/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/no-paywall-and-no-print-edition-for-the-guardian-on-the-eve-of-its-second-birthday/. Sally. Rawsthorne. 4 October 2024. live. Mediaweek. 27 March 2015. Australia. 31 July 2018.
  3. Web site: Guardian Australia – meet the team. 14 November 2022. Guardian Australia. 4 October 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004015324/https://www.theguardian.com/info/ng-interactive/2022/nov/14/guardian-australia-meet-the-team. 26 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Guardian to launch Australian online edition. 16 January 2013. 22 December 2016. ABC News/AAP. The newspaper, which reports a global digital readership of 39 million people, says Australia is its fourth-largest market with 1.3 million users.. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004013220/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-16/guardian-launching-australian-online-edition/4466636. 4 October 2024. live.
  5. News: Nielsen swings continue as publishers seek to improve measurement coverage. 4 October 2024. https://archive.today/20241004015721/https://mumbrella.com.au/nielsen-digital-numbers-swing-continue-as-publishers-seek-to-improve-measurement-coverage-528793. live. Zoe . Samos. 12 July 2018. Mumbrella. 31 July 2018.
  6. News: Top News sites July 2021: ABC and news.com.au lead market . . 19 August 2021 . 4 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004015749/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/top-news-sites-july-2021-abc-and-news-com-au-lead-market/ . live.
  7. News: Taylor. Lenore. Guardian Australia owes Malcolm Turnbull thanks – but not favours. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004013726/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/16/guardian-australian-malcolm-turnbull-media-diversity. 4 October 2024. live. 16 April 2020. Guardian Australia. 19 April 2020.
  8. Web site: Guardian Australia primed and ready. dead. http://web.archive.org/web/20180615004740/http://www.bandt.com.au/media/Guardian-Australia-primed-and-ready. 15 June 2018. B&T Magazine. 27 May 2013. 22 December 2016.
  9. Web site: The Guardian launches its Australian digital edition. The website also includes an Australian version of its successful opinion and commentary website Comment is Free which launches with pieces from Robert Manne, John Pilger and Thomas Keneally.. 4 October 2024. https://archive.today/20241004011946/https://mumbrella.com.au/the-guardian-launches-its-australian-digital-edition-157853. live. Nic. Christensen. Mumbrella. 27 May 2013. 22 December 2016.
  10. Web site: Lenore Taylor named new editor of Guardian Australia. Georgina . Mitchell . The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 May 2016 . 4 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004011636/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/lenore-taylor-named-new-editor-of-guardian-australia-20160520-gp0ddx.html . 4 October 2024 . live . Fairfax Media.
  11. News: Apology to Noel Pearson . 4 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004011241/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/22/apology-to-noel-pearson . live . Guardian Australia . 21 May 2017 . 10 April 2018 .
  12. Web site: Guardian Australia loses $7.5m, despite readership gains. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20180731093623/http://www.newsmediaworks.com.au/guardian-australia-loses-7-5m-despite-readership-gains/. 31 July 2018. 5 November 2014. NewsMediaWorks. 22 December 2016.
  13. Web site: Guardian appoints new editor to loss-making Australian site. subscription. https://archive.today/20241004010450/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/guardian-appoints-new-editor-to-lossmaking-australian-site/news-story/00c9c84802e4b7ecf54acb0f4caed913. 4 October 2024. Darren. Davidson. The Australian. 20 May 2016. 22 December 2016.
  14. News: Guardian Australia posts first profit since launch . 4 October 2024 . 1 August 2018 . . Emily . Watkins . registration . 4 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004010738/https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/08/01/media-files-guardian-australia-posts-first-profit-since-launch/ . Guardian’s first profit. Guardian Australia has announced, with great delight, that it has turned a profit. Its financial report revealed a $700,000 profit — the first since it launched five years ago. It’s not turning over enough, though, to repay original benefactor Graeme Wood. Instead, parent company Guardian Media Group, based in the UK, recapitalised Guardian Australia to settle the loan. Guardian Australia now has 65,000 paying members, which accounts for 36% of the site’s revenue. Advertising revenue makes up the rest.. live.
  15. News: The Guardian Australia doubled profits in 2024 . 4 October 2024 . 24 September 2024 . Nathan . Jolly . . GNM Australia Pty Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Guardian News & Media, cleared a $1.27 million profit during FY24, more than double the $619,492 profit posted in FY23. The publication took $40 million in revenue, up 4.7%, from $37 million the prior year..
  16. Web site: About Guardian Media Group. 4 October 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004004649/https://www.theguardian.com/gmg/2018/jul/24/about-guardian-media-group. live. Guardian Media Group. 24 July 2018. 26 October 2021.
  17. News: The Guardian view on the Australian election: vote on the climate emergency . 16 May 2019 . Guardian Australia . 16 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190515230936/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/16/guardian-view-australian-election-vote-climate-emergency . 15 May 2019 . live .
  18. Web site: 18 May 2022 . The Guardian view on the Australian federal election: say no to spin and inaction . 18 May 2022 . 4 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004005238/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/19/the-guardian-view-on-the-australian-federal-election-say-no-to-spin-and-inaction . live . Guardian Australia.

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