The Examiner

The Examiner is a long-established Tasmanian newspaper brand based in Launceston and focused on the city, northern Tasmania, and the island state's north-eastern communities. First published on 12 March 1842, it was established by James Aikenhead, with the Reverend John West playing an important role in its creation and serving as its first editorial writer. The publication began as a Saturday weekly, reflecting the communications and commercial conditions of colonial-era Tasmania. Within six months it added a Wednesday edition, broadening its regular contact with readers and local communities. The newspaper increased its publication frequency during the nineteenth century. In 1853 it moved to a tri-weekly schedule, appearing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It first adopted daily publication on 10 April 1866, although this initial daily run was short-lived and ended on 16 February 1867. The Examiner then returned to tri-weekly publication before resuming a daily schedule on 21 December 1877. This progression illustrates the paper's development from a weekly local publication into a more frequent regional news institution as Launceston and northern Tasmania grew. Over its history, The Examiner operated alongside related publications produced by its publishing company. The Weekly Courier was issued in Launceston from 1901 to 1935. The Saturday Evening Express appeared from 1924 until 1984, when it was transformed into The Sunday Examiner, a Sunday title that continues as part of the broader Examiner publishing identity. These associated editions extended the brand beyond its core daily newspaper and gave it additional weekly and weekend formats. The Examiner has passed through several ownership structures. It was formerly owned by ENT Limited, later became part of the Rural Press group, and is now associated with Australian Community Media. Its current publishing operation combines the heritage of a nineteenth-century regional newspaper with a contemporary online presence through examiner.com.au. The brand's editorial role is centered on local reporting, public affairs, community developments, and regional issues relevant to Launceston and north-eastern Tasmania. Historical readership figures reported by Roy Morgan Research for the 12 months ending September 2008 indicated a Saturday readership of 100,000 and a Monday-to-Friday readership of 84,000. Those figures provide a historical indication of the publication's reach but should not be treated as current circulation or readership data. The Examiner remains an active regional media brand, with Craig Thomson identified as its current editor in the available reference material.

The Examiner was founded in Launceston by James Aikenhead and first published on 12 March 1842. The Reverend John West was also instrumental in establishing the paper and became its first editorial writer. In its original form, the newspaper appeared weekly on Saturdays. Six months after launch, it added a Wednesday edition, giving readers two regular publication days. In 1853, The Examiner adopted a tri-weekly schedule, publishing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The paper first experimented with daily publication on 10 April 1866. That daily schedule lasted until 16 February 1867, after which the newspaper returned to tri-weekly publication. Daily publication was restored on 21 December 1877 and became a defining feature of the newspaper's long-term identity as Launceston's daily paper and a major source of news for northern Tasmania. The publishing company also developed associated titles. The Weekly Courier was published in Launceston between 1901 and 1935. The Saturday Evening Express was introduced in 1924 and continued until 1984. In that year it was transformed into The Sunday Examiner, a Sunday publication that continues under the Examiner name. These titles formed a wider family of print products around the principal daily newspaper. Ownership changed over the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Examiner was once owned by ENT Limited, subsequently became part of the Rural Press group, and is now part of Australian Community Media. The brand has therefore moved from an independently rooted local newspaper tradition through larger publishing groups while retaining its regional focus. Its online edition is represented by examiner.com.au, extending the publication's reach beyond its print distribution area. The newspaper's core editorial role has remained local and regional. It serves Launceston and north-eastern Tasmania, covering matters of interest to the communities, institutions, and public life of the region. Available reference material identifies Craig Thomson as the current editor. Historical Roy Morgan Research data for the 12 months ending September 2008 recorded Saturday readership of 100,000 and weekday readership of 84,000; these are historical readership figures rather than current performance data.

1. 2008Historical readership measurement

   Roy Morgan Research reported readership of 100,000 for the Saturday edition and 84,000 for Monday-to-Friday editions for the 12 months ending September 2008.

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2. 1984Saturday Evening Express becomes The Sunday Examiner

   The Saturday Evening Express was transformed into The Sunday Examiner, a Sunday title that continues under the Examiner publishing identity.

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3. 1935The Weekly Courier ends

   Publication of The Weekly Courier concluded after operating from 1901 to 1935.

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4. 1924Saturday Evening Express begins

   The publishing company launched the evening weekly Saturday Evening Express.

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5. 1901The Weekly Courier begins

   The publishing company began issuing The Weekly Courier in Launceston.

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6. 1877Daily publication restored

   Daily publication resumed on 21 December 1877.

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7. 1867Daily schedule temporarily ended

   The initial daily schedule ended on 16 February 1867, after which the paper returned to tri-weekly publication.

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8. 1866First daily publication

   The newspaper began daily publication on 10 April 1866.

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9. 1853Tri-weekly schedule introduced

   The Examiner moved to publication on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

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10. 1842First publication

    The Examiner was first published in Launceston on 12 March 1842. James Aikenhead founded the newspaper, with Reverend John West helping establish it and serving as its first editorial writer.

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11. 1842Second weekly edition added

    About six months after its Saturday launch, the paper began publishing on Wednesdays as well.

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A heritage regional news brand providing daily journalism and digital coverage for Launceston, north-eastern Tasmania, and surrounding communities.

• The ExaminerDaily regional newspaper1842

  The core newspaper brand is a daily publication based in Launceston and serving northern and north-eastern Tasmania. Its editorial remit is regional, with coverage oriented toward local communities, public affairs, and issues affecting the area. The title began as a weekly in 1842, moved through twice-weekly and tri-weekly schedules, and ultimately established daily publication in the nineteenth century.

• The Examiner onlineDigital news publishing

  The Examiner's online presence extends the newspaper brand through examiner.com.au. The available reference material identifies the site as the publication's online edition, but does not provide detailed information about its launch date, digital products, audience metrics, or subscription model.

• The Sunday ExaminerSunday newspaper1984

  The Sunday Examiner is the continuing Sunday title associated with The Examiner. It developed from the Saturday Evening Express in 1984, preserving the Examiner name in a weekend newspaper format.

• The Weekly CourierWeekly newspaper1901

  The Weekly Courier was an associated Launceston weekly published by the company's newspaper operation from 1901 until 1935.

• Saturday Evening ExpressEvening weekly newspaper1924

  The Saturday Evening Express was an associated evening weekly published from 1924 to 1984. It was later transformed into The Sunday Examiner.

1. The Examiner (Tasmania)
2. The Examiner online