THIS 78th edition of Local Ipswich News marks a major milestone for your free weekly paper.
In line with Ipswich City’s ever expanding footprint we have committed to a 50 per cent increase in our circulation taking our weekly numbers to 15,000 copies.
The Local Ipswich News will now be available for the first time in the regional areas such as Lowood, Marburg, Plainland and Laidley.
The number of papers in the expanding suburbs of Ripley and Springfield will be also be greatly increased.
Your only local free newspaper was first published in March 2021 after local businessman,
David Johnston, reacted to a growing call for a quality weekly free paper to service one of the fastest growing areas in Southeast Queensland.
“Our readers can probably thank my grandmother for this newspaper, because it was her love of a local community based paper that persuaded me to commit to publishing Local Ipswich News,” he said.
“She has read local newspapers religiously for many years and I realised the importance of the printed edition not only to her, but to the community at large,” he said.
“In recent months we have also invested in the quality of our journalism and we welcomed Peter Chapman one of Ipswich’s most experienced journalists to guide our future.
“A former editor of the year for the major APN Newspaper group and recipient of two Australia Day awards he has lived and breathed the Ipswich region, especially when he was the editor of the Queensland Times.
“Since he joined us, we have introduced new weekly lifestyle sections, highlighted the major issues that are confronting this area and we are keeping our elected officials to account.
These are all vital in producing a newspaper that people want and need.
“While the community desire was always there for a quality free paper after News Limited closed down the QT and its weekly editions we would not have survived if not for the support of local businesses.
“They believed in the Local Ipswich News and its value to the area and backed us and I thank them for that,” he said.
“I am pleased to also announce that the Federal Government has recognised the importance of our paper and recently provided us with a short term grant to cover increased printing costs.
“I would like to thank Federal MP for Blair, Shayne Neumann, and Federal Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, for meeting with us in Ipswich to hear firsthand our visions for the future and our plans for growing the paper,” he said.
Mr Neumann said the increase in circulation was great to see.
“Local news, written by locals for local people is vital to this region and now more will get to read it,” he said.
