Monthly newspaper for the southern vales region On the Coast could be up the creek, with publisher Australian Community Media (ACM) remaining tight lipped about its fate. 

On the Coast is a free newspaper, covering towns including McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat, Willunga, Mount Compass, Sellicks Beach, Aldinga Beach, Maslin Beach, Moana and Seaford. It was started by Country Publishers as a quarterly publication in the late '80s and became a monthly edition published by The Times, in Victor Harbor, in the early 1990s

In mid-April, ACM announced that it would hit pause on publishing dozens of its non-daily newspapers and stand down hundreds of staff because of the financial impact of Covid-19 on the already struggling business.

The affected newspapers included the majority of ACM’s almost 20 South Australian titles, with the exception of The Times, The Islander (based on Kangaroo Island), the Port Lincoln Times and Stock Journal.

At the time, an expected return date of 29 June was given for the hibernating mastheads. This date has now come and gone, and although some newspapers such as the Naracoorte Herald and The Recorder in Port Pirie have restarted, there is no news on On the Coast.

Readers and apparently even its staff remain in the dark about when or if it may be coming back. On the Coast is staffed by a part-time journalist with support from editorial colleagues at The Times, and advertising is sold by The Times sales team. Despite this, The Times staff had not been informed about their sister newspaper’s future, with one suggesting the newspaper’s hiatus could be extended until September, or even indefinitely. 

Losing On the Coast would be another blow to Fleurieu and southern suburbs readers, with Newscorp newspaper The Southern Messenger, recently having discontinued its print editions in favour of an online format.

Specific questions from the Fleurieu App about On the Coast's future to state editor Greg Mayfield were redirected to Canberra-based executive editor James Joyce. In response, a general media release was supplied, which celebrated the reopening of many of ACM’s stable of newspapers, but did not name On the Coast or other South Australian titles.

In it, ACM chief executive officer Allen Williams urges audiences and advertisers to support their local newspaper by buying a copy, taking out a digital subscription or booking an advertisement.

“We are showing our commitment to regional media and the important role our local newspapers play in keeping their areas informed, however as we've seen with recent closures by other publishers these titles need support to prosper," Mr Williams says. 

“We’re certainly grateful for the many supportive messages ACM’s trusted mastheads have received from loyal readers, customers and community leaders who say they have missed the local newspaper. 

“Now we need those communities to rally around the local paper and our dedicated journalists and advertising sales staff so these titles can return to sustainably serving regional readers and advertisers.” 

Mr Williams says ACM would, “continue to review [its] ability to return other suspended titles subject to advertising recovery”. 

He welcomes federal government relief measures such as JobKeeper and the confirmation that ACM is eligible for a grant under the government’s $50 million Public Interest News Gathering program. 

“We will now work through the details of the grant offer and what it means for our business.” 

The release also indicated that funding through the Judith Neilson Institute had been used for journalism projects to serve ACM’s audiences in regional areas.

Meanwhile, it appears there may be some teething issues with ACM's new printing service, with The Times printing delayed by a day last week. ACM's Murray Bridge print site was shut down temporarily as part of the coronavirus cost cutting, and there is a current proposal from ACM to shut it down permanently.

A statement on The Times' Facebook site said: "Unfortunately there was an issue with the printing of The Times last night. This means this week's edition will not be available until tomorrow [Friday]. We haven't stopped printing altogether! We apologise for any inconvenience and hope you are able to pick up your copy tomorrow." The Times was published as normal this week.