Community News staff were told yesterday Seven West Media had taken control of the company.
Seven West Media previously owned 49.9 per cent of Community News, while News Corp Australia owned 50.1 per cent.
The latest deal sees Seven West Media take control of the remaining 50.1 per cent for an undisclosed sum.
Staff from Community News will move from the current Stirling Street, Northbridge headquarters to Seven West headquarters in Osborne Park by 1 July.
The group’s Mandurah office is expected to remain open, according to the WA Times.
In an email to staff Seven West Media chief executive Maryna Fewster said:”We are delighted that Community News is joining the Seven West Media family and we look forward to welcoming the team when they arrive on 1st July.”
Community News owns 12 suburban newspaper titles around Western Australia and 17 digital mastheads.
COO of Seven West Media WA will now have full oversight over all publications.
The move further concentrates the Western Australia media landscape.
WA opposition leader Mike Nahan said: “People value their local papers and I am concerned that the local papers might get amalgamated into some large entity.”
“I’ll have to wait and see how it operates of course, but I am, as many people are, worried about variety and competition, it’s getting to be very concentrated.”
