The Phoenix
The Phoenix was a free newspaper published after the 2009 bushfires by Local Media Pty Ltd. It was created by editor Ash Long, and designed as a limited-time community service publication. It exceeded all expectations, and ended up being published from 2009, throughout 2010 and into 2011.
The aim was simple: to offer a helping hand to bushfire area businesses to help get them back on their feet. More than $1.3 million of free advertising was given to anyone who wanted it. Some larger outside-the-area businesses took some paid advertising, which helped share some of the substantial printing costs paid by Local Media Pty Ltd, which donated all time, labour, resources, administration and production costs.
The Phoenix was able to provide the most comprehensive coverage of recovery and reconstruction news, as well as detailed reports from the Royal Commission. The copies provide an incredible first-hand contemporary record of local people’s news and thoughts as they recovered as best they could from this incredible disaster.
We are progressively loading all back copies of The Phoenix to this website. Read any ‘back’ copy of your choice, by clicking on the issue date: