Updated April 14, 2020 18:42:24

Photo: Australian Community Media has suspended multiple mastheads. (ABC Central West: Melanie Pearce)

It is feared dozens of regional newspapers across Australia will close temporarily amid a business downturn due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Australian Community Media (ACM) executive chairman Antony Catalano told staff via email that from Monday the company would suspend printing operations in Canberra, Murray Bridge, Wodonga and Tamworth until the end of June.

Mr Catalano said some community titles would offer limited coverage online, and that the company's 14 daily papers — including the Canberra Times — would continue to be published.

The ABC, which has contacted ACM for comment, understands some non-daily newspapers will cease publication in print and online for the foreseeable future.

It is not clear at this stage which — or how many — mastheads will be affected.

ACM publishes more than 160 newspapers across the country.

The decision will result in some staff across the ACM business group being stood down.

Photo: The Canberra Times will still go to print, ACM says. (ABC News: Clarissa Thorpe)

'Shocked' staff 'left in limbo'

A journalist from one of the affected non-daily papers, who did not want to be named, said her colleagues were "incredibly shocked" by the news.

The journalist said the news was "read from a script" by a company executive via a teleconference.

She said staff have not been made redundant, but have the option to use annual leave or seek government support.

"We've been left in limbo that's the problem," the journalist said.

"We're not out of a job, but we are."

'Another blow for communities'

The Mayor of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Peta Pinson, said she was extremely disappointed by the news.

"The newspaper in our region has been a form of entertainment, education and news for the past 133 years," she said.

"I am saddened to learn that the stories of our community and the history behind the paper is being compromised due to commercial rationale.

"News is the very thing we go to in times of trouble and there is no more difficult time than during this worldwide pandemic.

"If digital papers are the way of the future then perhaps our region should consider subscribing to its own local platform via a truly community-owned news source."

Vows to keep local papers in print

NSW Government minister Melinda Pavey says solutions must be found to ensure non-daily newspapers owned by ACM can continue to operate.

Mrs Pavey said ACM's papers on the Mid North Coast were crucial during the drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 outbreak.

She said she will work with the company and her colleagues to try and keep the affected newspapers going.

"Transparency by the company as we go forward is really important, to see whether there are possible solutions," she said.

"Because those mastheads are important, we need to be part of that discussion.

"Our communities have supported these papers for a very long time and I know that our communities would want them to continue."

Wagga Wagga-based Nationals Member of the Legislative Council, Wes Fang, expressed his disappointment in a statement posted to Facebook.

"This is yet another blow to our communities, after the loss of WIN regional news services and the crippling effects of the drought and the recent bushfire season," Mr Fang said.

"I particularly feel for the ACM employees and their families today, given this shock announcement.

"These mastheads have become part of their towns and are relied upon by so many.

"I am particularly disappointed at this decision given only last week, the Federal Government announced a $5 million boost to support regional journalism and to keep vital communication channels open.

"I am calling for ACM to guarantee and commit that these non-daily news services will be reinstated by June."

Federal Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the media sector is "sharing the pain" of many Australians who are "doing it tough".

"Broadcasters and newspapers, especially in regional areas, are facing significant financial pressures, with advertising revenues sharply down," Mr Fletcher said in a statement.

"The Government recognises that regional media is essential in informing and strengthening local communities.

"I am working closely with the media sector to better understand the impacts they are facing, and expect to be able to say more this week about potential measures the government is considering."

'Disrespectful': Union demands details

Neill Jones, the media director at the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said in a statement that it was a mark of "disrespect" that staff had been "kept in the dark" about the decision.

Mr Jones criticised ACM for a lack of clarity around which papers would close, how many jobs were on the line, and accused the company of failing to adequately consult with the union.

"ACM management is legally required to consult with staff representatives, including MEAA, before undertaking any major changes to operations," he said.

"That hasn't taken place and all management has done by this announcement today is create more uncertainty among employees about where cuts will be made.

"Management needs to detail as soon as possible where the cuts will be felt."

Photo: Advertising has dropped in newspapers as many businesses feel the pinch of the COVID-19 pandemic. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)

Mr Jones said the closures were indicative of the decline of regional media in Australia.

"ACM is Australia's largest owner of regional and rural publications, and for a company of this size to be closing down mastheads is more evidence, if any was needed, that the future of regional media in this country is under threat," he said.

"Advertising revenues have been devastated by coronavirus, and we have seen close to a dozen mastheads close in the last fortnight …

"More than ever, rural and regional communities need trusted sources of news and the Government must provide emergency funding so media in country Australia can survive."

Topics: journalism, regional, regional-development, tamworth-2340, wodonga-3690, murray-bridge-5253, canberra-2600, port-macquarie-2444, bellingen-2454, taree-2430, manning-6152

First posted April 14, 2020 16:26:42