Geelong council snubs Addy, pulls advertising after intense scrutiny

The Addy’s core business is to hold power to account. But a recent City Hall decision has raised questions if it views the Addy’s purpose in the same way.

We’ve told the story of this town for more than 180 years, and will continue to do so; without fear or favour.

• How we held them to account
• How you made them listen

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and key community figures have rallied around the Advertiser after the Greater Geelong council pulled all major advertising from the publication.

The sudden move came after the masthead’s coverage of community outrage over the draft council budget, and the staff exodus and plunging staff morale inside City Hall.

The council failed to respond directly when asked if it had pulled advertising because of unfavourable coverage.

Instead, it said it made the decision in a bid to save money amid rising costs.

“We have been reviewing all of our operational expenditure as we look to find savings that will allow us to focus on delivering core community services and important community projects,” acting chief executive David Greaves said.

The move means the council will stop its weekly full-page city news advertisement in the Saturday Addy from July.

The full page ad was used to keep the community informed about important events and information.

The council also pulled already booked advertisements including an ad to support the Addy’s special NAIDOC edition next week.

Deputy PM Richard Marles said the council should “stand with the Addy”.

“Holding government to account – including the local federal member – must be core business for the Geelong Advertiser,” the Corio MP said.

Richard Marles in his office at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I know first hand that at times this can be uncomfortable. But as holders of public office our discomfort is not a reason to deny Geelong its sense of community.

“The Addy is at the heart of this. And its presence should not be taken for granted.”

Long time business and community leader Rob Costa and Committee for Geelong chief executive Michael Johnston also voiced support for the Addy in response to the council snub.

“It would be unfortunate to see people impacted and miss out on information,” Mr Johnston said.

The Addy, Australia’s second oldest newspaper, is Geelong’s largest masthead, covering communities from Little River to Apollo Bay.

It reaches 175,000 readers each week across print and online, which equates to millions annually.

Council data released this week shows more than 82,000 people, or an average of 1590 people a week, clicked onto its Have Your Say web page between April 2022 and March 2023.

In the same time period the Addy website recorded more than nine million page views.

The council failed to respond when asked if it would continue print advertising in other Geelong print publications.

Mr Greaves said the Addy would be used for advertising on a “discretionary basis” and when required by legislation.

Acting City of Greater Geelong chief executive David Greaves. Picture: Linkedin

Committee for Geelong CEO Michael Johnston

“We have a range of avenues available to share information with the community, with print advertising remaining as part of that mix,” he said.

The Geelong Advertiser revealed in 2010 that councillors had threatened they would pull advertising unless they received more favourable coverage.

The ultimatum followed coverage of matters of serious public interest, including the unfair dismissal of two council workers, former mayor John Mitchell’s lavish night at Crown Casino at ratepayers’ expense and Bruce Harwood’s bid to go on another ratepayer-funded overseas trip.

The latest council decision comes after it was revealed the state government would pull print advertising from The Age and the Herald Sun from July 1.

Mr Costa said the Addy was a “voice of Geelong”.

“All my life the Addy has been the voice of Geelong and for a long time the sole source, and more recently the principal source of news for many Geelong people,” Mr Costa said.
“It also reflects the sentiment and the heartbeat of the town.”

Mr Costa said because council could not raise rates beyond a state-government-set cap the

“only thing it can do is cut costs”.

The council is due to spruik its 2023-24 budget in an ad in the Saturday Addy.

A council newsletter is available at its offices and outlets, and is distributed to letterboxes.

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Originally published as Geelong council snubs Addy, pulls advertising after intense scrutiny