Star Observer
 | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid and online |
| Publisher | Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing Limited |
| Editor | Elias Jahshan |
| Staff writers | 5 |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | 21 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia |
| Circulation | 30,521 (March 2007) |
| ISSN | 0819-5129 |
| OCLC number | 26727666 |
| Website | Star Observer |
The Star Observer is a free tabloid and online newspaper that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and intersex communities in the eastern States of Australia. The paper is owned and published by Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited, a community-owned and oriented business.
History and readership
The newspaper was initially published by Michael Glynn as a tabloid in 1979 under the name The Sydney Star[1] and is the oldest and the largest publication in circulation of its kind in Australia.[2] In 1982 the paper changed its name, becoming The Star (1982-1985), later undergoing several name changes, including Star Observer (1985-1986), Sydney's Star Observer (1986-1987), and Sydney Star Observer (1987-).
The typical profile of the audience is aged between 23 years and 50 years, with a higher than average income level.[3] With a 2007 audited circulation in excess of 20,000 per week, the publishers claim a weekly readership exceeding 57,000 readers.[3]
In late 2013, Elias Jahshan was appointed editor. In October 2007, SSO joined several other publications in every mainland state to form the Gay and Lesbian Australian Media Alliance (GLAMA), to improve support for the gay and lesbian community organisations that rely on community publishers.[2]
Format and content
In hardcopy tabloid format, The Star (as it is commonly known) is published on a Wednesday morning and distributed to 500 locations throughout Sydney, regional NSW and interstate.[3] Copies can be found in gay and lesbian community outlets such as pubs, nightclubs, gay and lesbian friendly retail shops, gyms, sex on premises venues, medical practices, and community centres. Subscriptions are also available.
Both the tabloid publication and online version contain local, national, and international coverage related to gay and lesbian matters. Non-specifically gay and lesbian items, such as music and film, real estate, technology, horoscopes, and classifieds are also covered. A strong focus of the publication is on community, such as sport, gay and lesbian business events, and opinion and letters to editor sections.
During 2009 and 2010, a number of special editions were published to celebrate the 30th Jubilee (2009), 1000th edition (2009), Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (2010) and 30 years of the gay scene (2010).[3] Specialist magazinea are produced annually in the prelude and aftermath of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival, called fg and PS respectively, and guides for both Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival and a travel expo called Out Travel Expo.
Community support
The shareholders of the publishing company have never drawn dividends from any profits generated by the Star Observer.[1] Instead, The Star has made donations to support the community through entities such as the AIDS Trust, Victorian AIDS Council, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and Twenty10 as well as others.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "About - History". Star Online. Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited. 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Star Observer". Members. Gay and Lesbian Australian Media Alliance. 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "2009–2010 Media Kit". SSO Media. Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited. 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
Further reading
- Wotherspoon, Garry (1991). City of the plain: history of a gay sub-culture (hardcover). Hale & Iremonger. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-86806-425-3.