The excitement was palpable ! Today 29-06-20 saw the return of 'The Port Macquarie News' local newspaper at $1.70 a copy.

The publishers say that they will be printing three editions of 'The Port Macquarie News' each week. Today was the first edition since the paper closed down earlier this year.

The futures of the free 'Port Express' & the 'Wauchope Gazette' are unknown.

The Road Test : So, who likes paying for advertising ?

Every edition of 'The Port Macquarie New' that you buy is going to set you back $1.70 a copy at the newsagent.

That's works out at $265 a year - WOW - At that price 'The Port Macquarie News' MUST  be jam packed with quality journalism and unique local news stories - right ?

Well, not quite.

Actually, about 60% of the content of the first edition of the new slimline 'Port Macquarie News' consisted of adverts & 'Filler Stories' with the remained being sport & local news.

For the technically minded here's the page-by-page content breakdown for the new slimline Port Macquarie Newspaper edition #1 (16 pages, where each page represents 6.5 % of the total paper - 6.5% X 16 pages = 100%)

* Front Page : Own PR 40%, News 30%, Ad 30%  (6.5% - News 1.8%)

* Page #2 : News 60%, Index 20%, Ad 20% (6.5% - News 3.75%)

* Page #3 : News 80%*, Ad 20% (6.5% - News 5.2%)

* Page #4 : News 100% (6.5% -  News 6.5%)

* Page #5 : News 100% (6.5% -  News 6.5%)

* Page #6 : News 100% (6.5% -  News 6.5%)

* Page #7 : Filler Stories - Own PR & Opinion - 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #8 : Filler Stories 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #9 : Filler Stories 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #10 : Filler Stories 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #11 : Filler Stories 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #12 : Ads 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #13 : Ads 100% (6.5% -  News 0.0%)

* Page #14 : News Sport 100% (6.5% -  News 6.5%)

* Page #15 : News Sport 50%, Filler Stories 50% (6.5% -  News 3.25%)

* Back page : News Sport 80%, Ads 20% (6.25% -  News 5.2%)

(PMN Supplement 'Town & Country' Ag. News not included in 'Local News' percentage calculation).

Punter reaction to first edition of new 'Port Macquarie News' :

'Heard all the stories already on the ABC'

'No TV guide - that's what I've been hanging out for'

'Bit thin for $1.70'

'Same stories are on PortMac.News website for free'

'Call me old fashioned, but I've always felt that if more than 50% of a newspaper's content is advertising material, then they should be paying me to read it, not the other way around.'

Lets Keep 'Free Speech - FREE !'

PortMac.News is dedicated to 'Keeping Free Speech FREE!'

PortMac.News is not beholding to anybody ! Long after the profits from the Port Macquaries newspapers have been transported back to some faceless corporation in Sydney, we'll be right here in the Hastings working hard to grow your independent local voice.

So, as the Hasting comes out of lockdown, now is a great time to consider recommending the all digital, all FREE PortMac.News to freinds & family - The more Hastonians we can reach the more powerful our local voice will be.

As you already know, visitors to the PortMac.News website receive UNLIMITED FREE ACCESS to:

FREE Unlimited 'Local News' - 'The Citizen':

Relevant local news, sport and community information from Port, Kempsey, Taree & beyond updated as the news breaks seven (7) days a week - Formatted for display on Smartphone, Tablet or Desktop.

FREE Unlimited 'National News' - 'The Independent':

Curated national & state news stories focused on Politics, Social events, the Pandemic, People & Places updated as the news breaks seven (7) days a week - Formatted for display on Smartphone, Tablet or Desktop.

FREE Unlimited 'International News' - 'The Globe':

Breaking news stories Europe, Asia-Pacific, America and the rest of the world focused on the global economics & politics that effect us, Social events, the Pandemic, People & Places updated as the news breaks seven (7) days a week - Formatted for display on Smartphone, Tablet or Desktop.

FREE Unlimited 'Youth Culture News' - 'The Street':

Featuring our famous 'Music Clip 'O' The Week', our 'Street' section features tasteful & sometimes controversial selected news stories focused on Lifestyle, The Environment, Design & Architecture, Pop Culture, Technology & Internet - Updated as the news breaks seven (7) days a week - Formatted for display on Smartphone, Tablet or Desktop.

Subscribers to the PortMac.News FREE Email newsletter system receive:

FREE Daily 'News Brief' -  Coming soon - Our new 'Daily News Brief' - ASX latest, Economic updates, breaking Local, State, National & World news - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday mornings direct to your Email In-box. 

FREE 'Weekly News Bulletin' - In depth summary of the weeks Local, State, Nation & World news as featured on PortMac.News - Every Friday morning direct to your Email In-box.

Video | Gems Kill - Experts say Coronavirus can survive on paper products for a day or more & much longer on plastic !

Safety First ! - If you get your local paper delivered, don't forget to sanitise that newspaper and its packaging BEFORE you touch it - you just can't be sure where it's been.