Star Observer

Star Observer
Type Monthly magazine
Format Tabloid and online
Publisher Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing Limited
Editor Elias Jahshan
Staff writers 10
Founded 1979
Language English
Headquarters 21 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
Circulation 15,000 (September 2015)
ISSN 0819-5129
OCLC number 26727666
Website Star Observer

The Star Observer is a free monthly magazine and online newspaper with social media channels that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities in Australia. The magazine is owned and published by Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited, a community-owned and oriented not-for-profit 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 largest publication 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), Sydney Star Observer (1987-2014) and Star Observer (2014-).

The typical profile of the audience is aged between 23 years and 50 years, with a higher than average income level.[3] With a 2015 audited circulation in excess of 15,000 per month, the publishers claim a readership exceeding 41,000 readers in print and 100,000+ online.[3]

In late 2013, Elias Jahshan was appointed editor.

Format and content

In hardcopy tabloid format, The Star (as it is commonly known) is published on the third Thursday of each month and is distributed to 375 locations throughout Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as well as selected regional Australian locations.[3] Copies can be found in cafes, libraries, cinemas theaters, book shops, medical practices, and community centres as well as gay and lesbian community outlets such as pubs, nightclubs, gay and lesbian friendly retail shops, gyms and sex on premises venues. Subscriptions are also available.

Both the tabloid publication and online version contain local, national, and international coverage related to gay and lesbian news, opinion and lifestyle . Non-specifically gay and lesbian items, such as arts and culture, real estate and technology are also covered. A strong focus of the publication is on community, such as sport, gay and lesbian business events, and opinion.

Each year special publications are produced to celebrate Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Midsumma Festival and Mardi Gras Film Festival.

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. 1 2 "About - History". Star Online. Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited. 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  2. "Star Observer". Members. Gay and Lesbian Australian Media Alliance. 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "20092010 Media Kit". SSO Media. Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited. 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-03.

Further reading

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, January 17, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.