Rival newspaper publishers APN News and Media and News Limited are considering a printing partnership in Queensland to overcome challenges facing the sector, cut costs and improve distribution.

The partnership could possibly see both companies share printing presses and distribution in Queensland, and other states, and close some existing print sites.

News Limited plans to cut its eastern seaboard printing plants from 19 to just five in a restructuring plan, which would also result in an unknown number of job losses.

APN Print has seven sites across Queensland. APN has a number of regional publications which include the Sunshine Coast Daily, the Daily Mercury and The Queensland Times.

News Limited publishes the Courier Mail in Brisbane as well as regional publications, including the Townsville Bulletin and the Gold Coast Bulletin.

News had previously been in discussions with Fairfax about sharing print in Sydney and Melbourne, but talks broke down before Fairfax announced it was closing the big metro print centres and switching print to regional centres.

APN has a number of modern print sites in the sunshine State, including Rockhampton and Toowoomba which were both opened in 2008, and Yandina opened in 2006.

APN News and Media has seen a drop in its publishing revenue of 10 per cent in its second half, due to weaker market conditions compared to the first half, and a decline in its masthead volumes.

Its outdoor division was virtually the only bright spot in the company’s business. Overall APN recorded a 17 per cent fall in earnings before tax (EBITDA) for the first six months compared to the previous year.