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Joining forces: InQueensland locks in growth by acquiring The Weekend Edition

InQueensland has today announced the acquisition of leading lifestyle masthead The Weekend Edition to create a dominant digital news and lifestyle media company.

Apr 04, 2022, updated Apr 04, 2022
The Weekend Edition managing editor Chrisanthi Demos and InQueensland Publisher Peter Atkinson. (Image: Supplied)

The Weekend Edition managing editor Chrisanthi Demos and InQueensland Publisher Peter Atkinson. (Image: Supplied)

In a coup for Queensland readers and commercial partners, the acquisition creates an audience of 80,000 subscribers and more than 500,000 monthly combined website visitors.

InQueensland publisher Peter Atkinson said the merger created a quality weekend supplement for InQueensland subscribers.

“Both InQueensland and The Weekend Edition are renowned for their teams’ knowledge of Queensland and the topics that matter most to Queenslanders,” Atkinson said.

“Our stable of specialist writers and respected columnists write with genuine insight on the big stories affecting our state and this cross-pollination will cement our reputation as a growing, respected media channel.

“Rounding out InQueensland’s Monday to Friday business, political and cultural commentary, The Weekend Edition will become its literal self – a quality weekend supplement for InQueensland readers.”

Since launching in February 2020, InQueensland has emerged as a vital news platform in Queensland, attracting some of the state’s most respected journalists as contributors including Dennis Atkins, Madonna King, John McCarthy, Katrina Beikoff, Brad Cooper, Robert MacDonald, Craig Johnstone and Rebecca Levingston.

The acquisition follows last month’s announcement of InQueensland’s broadcast partnership with Ten News First and continues the independent masthead’s Queensland expansion.

The Weekend Edition Managing Editor Chrisanthi Demos said the merger would strengthen the outlets’ respective offerings and reach, while upholding their shared values of quality independent journalism.

“We’ve been a one-paper town for a long time and this digital amalgamation makes us a force to be reckoned with,” Demos said.

The Weekend Edition was sold by its creator, Carl Lindgren, to Queensland digital print group, ColourChiefs, six years ago.

Coinciding with The Weekend Edition’s 10th anniversary, Demos said the merger heralded a significant new chapter for the popular online publication.

“Carl’s vision was to create an independent media outlet for the people of Queensland, based on his ethos of positive media,” Ms Demos said.

“InQueensland shares the same editorial ethos for excellence. It’s intelligent, quality journalism, backed by well-formed opinions by experts renowned in their respective fields.

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“In joining forces with Solstice Media – an established and respected national publishing company – we unlock a significant national network and engine room that will elevate the opportunity for The Weekend Edition and its partners.”

Atkinson said that the two mastheads would maintain separate online presences for the foreseeable future.

“We have two very strong products and we don’t want to dilute either,” Atkinson said.

“Both InQueensland and The Weekend Edition are renowned for their teams’ knowledge of Queensland and the topics that matter most to Queenslanders.

“Our stable of specialist writers and respected columnists write with genuine insight on the big stories affecting our state and this cross-pollination will cement our reputation as a growing, respected media channel.”

The new entity will be based at 111 Eagle Street Brisbane; home of InQueensland’s founding partner Gadens.

Parent company Solstice Media began operations in South Australia in 2004 and has since grown to become a leading national digital news publisher, producing The New Daily, InDaily, InQueensland and a number of print publications and events.

The company employs more than 80 people and has offices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Solstice Media recently received funding from Google and Facebook and entered into a broadcast partnership with Ten New First to strengthen its video offering on its news sites.

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