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| The Australian (newspaper) | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Australian |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
| Format | Broadsheet and compact |
| Founded | 14 July 1964 |
| Founder | Sir Frank Packer |
| Owner | News Corp Australia |
| Publisher | News Corp Australia |
| Chiefeditor | Paul Whittaker |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Circulation | (see Circulation, Readership and Impact) |
The Australian (newspaper) is a national daily broadsheet newspaper published in Australia. Founded in 1964, it provides national and international reporting across politics, business, culture and sport and has influential reach among policymakers, corporate leaders and legal practitioners. The paper has been associated with notable media proprietors, prominent journalists and sustained debates over editorial independence and media regulation.
The Australian was established in 1964 by Sir Frank Packer as a national counterpart to metropolitan titles such as the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age (Melbourne). Early editorial direction involved editors drawn from publications including the Daily Telegraph (Sydney), The Sun (Sydney), and international models like the Times (London), The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Ownership subsequently moved into the media empire of Rupert Murdoch, linking the title to News Corporation and later News Ltd. The paper covered major events including the Vietnam War, the Whitlam Dismissal, the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, the September 11 attacks, the Global Financial Crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Editors across decades have included figures with careers at The Bulletin, National Times, The Australian Financial Review, and overseas outlets such as The Sunday Telegraph (UK). The Australian expanded into digital publishing concurrent with the rise of AOL, Microsoft, and later platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
The Australian is owned by News Corp Australia, a subsidiary of News Corp. Corporate decisions have been influenced by executives such as Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and directors from the Wall Street Journal network and the former Dow Jones & Company holdings. The paper operates alongside sister titles including the Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph (Sydney), and the Courier-Mail. Publishing infrastructure integrates departments with ties to Foxtel, Sky News Australia, and former holdings in HarperCollins. Corporate governance has intersected with regulatory frameworks administered by bodies like the Australian Communications and Media Authority and legal instruments such as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
The Australian's editorial line has been characterized as influential among conservative and centrist circles, engaging with political actors including the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, and independents in parliaments such as the Parliament of Australia. Its commentary has affected debates about policy proposals from administrations led by prime ministers including Robert Menzies, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison, and Anthony Albanese. Opinion pages have featured contributors aligned with think tanks like the Institute of Public Affairs, the Grattan Institute, the Lowy Institute, and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Coverage of international relations has referenced actors such as United States, China, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Japan, India, Russia, and agencies including United Nations and World Health Organization.
The Australian produces metropolitan and regional editions printed in formats comparable to the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. Distribution networks reach capital cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, with international readership across centres like London, New York City, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The title offers supplements on topics including business, culture, law and sport, paralleling sections in the Australian Financial Review and the Guardian Australia digital offerings. Digital subscription platforms have integrated paywalls similar to those employed by The New York Times Company and The Washington Post Company.
Prominent journalists and commentators associated with the paper have included reporters and columnists who previously worked at outlets such as The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age (Melbourne), The Guardian (UK), The Daily Telegraph (UK), and international agencies like Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Bloomberg. Regular contributors have included legal commentators from the High Court of Australia community, economists affiliated with universities like Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and public intellectuals associated with institutions such as Griffith University and Monash University. Columnists have ranged from former politicians and diplomats—figures from portfolios in Foreign Affairs and Treasury—to sportswriters covering competitions like the Australian Football League, Cricket World Cup, Rugby World Cup, and federal events organized by Cricket Australia and Football Federation Australia.
The Australian has faced litigation and controversy involving defamation claims brought by public figures, disputes implicating media regulation overseen by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and reporting scrutinized by advocates from groups such as the Australian Press Council. High-profile legal matters have intersected with matters of national security and freedom of the press, referencing inquiries like those by the Parliament of Australia committees and judicial review in courts including the High Court of Australia and state supreme courts. Reporting on topics involving Climate change, Indigenous Australians, and foreign policy toward China and United States allies has provoked public debate and regulatory attention.
Circulation trends have followed industry-wide declines observed at titles such as the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (Melbourne) while digital subscriptions grew in patterns similar to The New York Times and The Guardian. Readership includes policymakers in the Parliament of Australia, executives in the Australian Stock Exchange, legal professionals in the High Court of Australia, and cultural figures in institutions like the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The Australian's investigative pieces have influenced inquiries and policy reviews involving bodies such as the Australian Federal Police, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and parliamentary oversight committees.
Category:Newspapers published in Australia Category:News Corp Australia