The Midwest Times was sold to Western Australian Newspapers
Geraldton’s last locally owned newspaper, the Midwest Times has been sold to West Australian Newspapers. The weekly newspaper was bought just three months afters WAN’s purchase of the independently owned Geraldton Newspapers, bringing WAN’s businesses in the area to three newspapers and two radio stations.
Although he said it was a shame there were no more locally owned papers in Geraldton, former Midwest Times owner Keith McMullen told the ABC that a Western Australian company approaching him for the sale helped him make the decision.
"I’ve dealt with the West Australian for over 15 years and they’re very ethical, so I’m more than happy to have done a deal with the West," he told the ABC.
Mr McMullen says there will be no staff cuts as a result of the sale, but the Australian Journalists Association (AJA) says it’s not convinced as some Geraldton Guardian staff lost their jobs when the paper was bought by WAN.
Guardian management too promised no short-term staff cuts because of the takeover, but all printing staff were made redundant within two months.
