Australian publisher David Yaffa dies aged 84

David Yaffa, the Australian publisher who took the reins at Yaffa Publishing at the age of just 21, has died at the age of 84.

David Yaffa.

David Yaffa, the Australian publisher who took the reins at Yaffa Publishing at the age of just 21, has died at the age of 84.

Mr Yaffa’s death was announced by his daughter Tracy Yaffa, managing director of the company, in a statement to staff earlier today.

“It is with great sadness and heart, I announce the passing of David Yaffa, on Saturday, October 6th,” wrote Ms Yaffa.

“He was my predecessor, my adored father and for some of you, your boss. A true publishing giant and unique gentleman, his career spanned an impressive 57 years from 1955 to 2012. His contribution to the Australian media landscape was extraordinary.”

A well-respected and well-connected publisher, Mr Yaffa moved from business-to-business publishing in the 1950s to become one of the country’s largest specialist publishers and event organisers across more than 30 consumer and B2B brands.

Founded in 1925, Mr Yaffa rebuffed numerous approaches over the years to sell the business, enter into joint ventures and list the company on the local stock market.

Despite the continued slump in print advertising in recent years, Mr Yaffa determinedly retained Yaffa as a family-managed business.

James Yaffa, publisher of the company’s industry title, AdNews, said, “I had the privilege to work with Dad for over 20 years, and enjoyed every minute of it. Dad was a real character who made a positive impact on so many Australians. Our staff respected him like no other.

“I could have had no better mentor and for that I’m eternally grateful. We had plenty of fun working hard to be as competitive as possible. Make no mistake, David liked to win!”

Launched 93 years ago, Yaffa was founded by David Yaffa Snr when he established Yaffa Syndicate, a supplier of cartoons, photographs and articles to the Australian and New Zealand newspaper industries.

In 1928, David Yaffa Snr launched a monthly industry publication, Newspaper News, which later became AdNews, only the second marketing industry publication in the world at the time.

He also established a printing company, Rotary Colorprint, which printed not only his own magazines but also Phantom comics, Reader’s Digest and other publications under licence.

Reports from Newspaper News in the 1930s shows pictures of David Yaffa Snr at industry events with Sir Keith Murdoch, Frank Packer and the Fairfax family.

David Yaffa Snr died when his son was 13, and eight years later, David Yaffa Jnr began running the company. He retired in 2012 after seven decades in the Australian publishing industry.

Renamed Yaffa Media in 2015, the company’s operations now span publishing, content marketing and events across a broad range of industries including fashion, advertising, healthcare, photography, natural health and sports.

The company said David Yaffa Jnr will be remembered by staff for “his love of the media” and strengths of leadership. Former AdNews publisher Jeremy Light, said: “David Yaffa was a proprietor with a true feel for the media.

“He was in it for the long haul. He spent a lifetime building up the business his way, through trial and error, virtually single-handed.”

David Yaffa 18 July 1934 — 6 October 2018

Darren Davidson worked for Yaffa in 2010 and 2011.