Messages In This Thread

**Amerion** · 03-06-2019, 02:02 AM

The Tribune to close

Tribune administration
March 6, 2019

THE SOUTH PACIFIC TRIBUNE HEADQUARTERS, LAMPSHADE DISTRICT — After fourteen days in operation, the Tribune is shutting down its presses. The decision was finalised on Tuesday by Managing Editor Amerion in a staff meeting (of one). Speaking to reporters afterwards, Amerion, who also serves as publisher, said:

The Tribune was founded with the intention of being the premier news outlet in the South Pacific. It has always been our desire to represent the views and interests of Islanders and disseminate information to all of the Pacifics. As we began to review the aims of the new Minister of Regional Affairs, we came to the conclusion that our efforts would be better utilised working within the Ministry on a regional paper rather than competing with it and potentially diluting the quality of both operations. We look forward to beginning a new chapter in journalism in the Coalition.

The move comes as interregional news organisations The Northern Lights and NationStates Today have steadily expanded their circulation and diversified into interregional news and current affairs. The improved quality of these publications posed a threat to the distribution of the Tribune and the decision to fold the paper to work with the Ministry of Regional Affairs of the South Pacific is seen by analysts as a strategic move by the paper's owners to capitalise on the significant resources and reach of a government department.

The paper is expected to officially close on Thursday, March 7 2019.