Fairfax Adopts Media Company Branding

May 3, 2006
Media Statement

Fairfax Adopts Media Company Branding

Statement made by Joan Withers, Chief Executive Officer,
Fairfax New Zealand Limited

In order to reinforce its position as a media company rather than predominantly a print publisher, Fairfax in New Zealand is rebranding itself as Fairfax Media.

In today’s 24/7 information age, the public obtains its news, information and entertainment from a variety of media sources.

This is driving convergence of what were previously quite separate sectors such as journalism, advertising, telecommunications and technology.

In response to these developments, Fairfax is building an outstanding digital business to complement its strong capabilities in the more traditional media of newspapers and magazines.

This will give the company the capability to be a relevant distributor of news and advertising through a wide variety of platforms including market-leading newspapers and magazines.

There is already a strong base from which to build a digital platform in the Fairfax group, in the form of Stuff and Trade Me.

Trade Me has a preeminent online commercial position in classified advertising and auctions. Stuff, consistently voted by the public and industry experts as New Zealand’s best media/news site, will continue to be developed as a news and information provider. Fairfax newspaper online sites will be progressively enhanced.

Adopting a new brand that more accurately describes the business is a way of reinforcing externally to those that use Fairfax’s media companies for information or for advertising that Fairfax is a group of linked businesses.

Internally, it will reinforce to staff that through its various newspaper mastheads, magazine publishing titles, online brands and other printed products, Fairfax is New Zealand’s largest media company. This combination of media outlets has the potential to reach virtually all New Zealanders.

Fairfax Media ranks among New Zealand’s major business enterprises, employing more than 2700 people and with operating revenues of around $600 million.

ENDS

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