Executive chairman Mr Catalano was called to a virtual meeting with Communications Minister Paul Fletcher,Agriculture Minister David Littleproud,Education Minister Dan Tehan,Government Whip Rowan Ramsey and Energy Minister Angus Taylor last week to provide assurances that newspapers in their local electorates - including Maranoa,Wannon,Grey and Hume - would return. Mr Catalano told the ministers that most newspapers would return in print as he explained the financial pressure his business was under.
Staff at ACM were informed in mid-April thatthe company would temporarily suspend the print editions non-daily newspapers includingNarromine News,Border Chronicle and theKiama Independent.ACM also announced plans to shut four printing sites in Canberra,Murray Bridge,Wodonga and Tamworth. The decision was similar to ACM's commercial rival,News Corp Australia,which suspended the print editions of more than 60 community newspapers. Mr Catalano declined to comment.
Employees at the newspapers and print centres are expected to return to work on June 29. Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the suspension of some newspaper titles could be extended beyond the date initially set out - June 29 - due to variations in the easing of restrictions across Australia's states and territories. Most newspapers are expected to return to publishing,but some may return with reduced frequency.
Mr Catalano and business partner Alex Waislitz bought ACM for $115 million last July. Mr Waislitz provided a loan to the ACM business,which is currently being repaid.
In addition to a reduction in advertising spending,the decision by News Corp Australia last monthto end the print editions of a large portion of its regional and community news portfolio also affects ACM,which owns printing centres where News Corp published some of its titles.
Mr Catalano was intalks with News Corp about acquiring its regional and community news media portfolio,but the negotiations fell apart last month. News Corp has since axed between 600-1000 roles across the division and has turned most local newspapers into digital-only products.
Separately Nine Entertainment Co (publisher of this masthead) and ACM had been in discussions about the future of its printing deal.