Avenues Magazine Joins Fairfax Media

MEDIA RELEASE

May 18, 2007

Avenues Magazine Joins Fairfax Media

Fairfax Media acquires premium South Island magazine

Fairfax Media is to purchase lifestyle magazine Avenues from owner Avenues Publishing Limited for an undisclosed sum.

Fairfax Media Chief Executive Ms Joan Withers said Avenues brought the number of New Zealand magazines the media company owns to 16, and was complementary to its other lifestyle titles such as Cuisine and NZ House & Garden.

“Avenues is a quality, superbly written and produced magazine that has achieved a loyal South Island readership through the connection it has made with mainlanders,” said Ms Withers.

“It has tapped into what makes mainlanders unique and lives up to its positioning of celebrating the best of life south of Cook Strait.”

Produced in Christchurch under General Manager Charlotte Tait, the magazine is edited by Jon Gadsby.

It has a print run of 19,000 copies, a readership of 39,000 and has been published for four years.

In addition to a subscription base and sales through South Island magazine outlets, 5000 copies of Avenues are distributed to hotels, and frequently visited locations such as cafes, frequent flyer lounges and hospital waiting rooms.

Fairfax Media General Manager South Island, Chris Jagusch, said under Fairfax Media’s ownership the magazine would continue to operate to its current successful formulae, and remain focused on the South Island market.

“It is a natural companion to The Press, the South Island’s premier newspaper,” he said.

“Avenues looks to feature fashion, beauty, wine, food, entertainment, travel and design, and we do not envisage changes to style or content. Through Avenues, Fairfax Media will be able to offer advertisers greater penetration of the important Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka markets.

“We will work with the existing team to look at opportunities to increase circulation and attract additional advertising through package deals with other magazines in Fairfax Media’s stable.”

All current Avenues staff will be offered the opportunity to continue their relationship with the magazine.

Avenues Publishing Director, Sharon Collins, said that the sale of Avenues to Fairfax Media was both recognition of the tremendous achievements of all those associated with the magazine to date, and would give the title the best opportunity to grow and develop to its full potential.

“Given Fairfax Media’s professionalism and commitment to producing quality magazines, and the linkage with The Press, Avenues could not be entering a better stable.

“For staff, readers and advertisers, this is a very positive development.”

ENDS

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