The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) is marking its 190th anniversary today, making it one of the oldest continuously printed metropolitan newspapers in the world. [Let’s look at some Sydney Morning Herald History]
To celebrate, the SMH has printed a souvenir wrap-around front page. Throughout the week, it will also have special features and its inserts including Good Food. The milestone will also be celebrated at a special event held at the Sydney Opera House.
“It is mind boggling to reflect on what The Sydney Morning Herald journalists and photographers have witnessed and recorded over the past 190 years,” says SMH editor Lisa Davies.
“The Herald has never been read by more people, from a broader cross-section of Australia. The media landscape is constantly adapting to changing revenue models, global headwinds and digital disruption but through it all we have focused on the stories, on doing our jobs, innovating and ensuring the Herald remains the trusted source of news our readers demand.
“As we celebrate the Herald’s rich heritage; its vital role in shaping Sydney and our voice in the most important national conversations, we want to draw on this history as we look forward. We must continue to drive and inform the future of our city, the direction of our nation and our place on the world’s stage.”
[UPDATE] We’ve added a few more facts about the History of The Sydney Morning Herald
SMH Fact: 3 workers of the defunct Sydney Gazette, Ward Stephens, Frederick Stokes, and William McGarvie, founded “The Sydney Herald” in 1931.
SMH Fact: SMH [Herald] is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia.
SMH Fact: John Fairfax & Sons Limited commemorated the Herald’s 150th anniversary in 1981 and presented the City of Sydney with a sculpture by Stephen Walker called “Tank Stream Fountain”.
SMH Fact: The Web edition of the Sydney Morning Herald was first launched in 1995.
The first edition of the SMH, then known as The Sydney Herald, was printed on April 18, 1831, when King William IV was ruling the British Empire and 70 years before Federation. The publication was renamed to The Sydney Morning Herald after John Fairfax bought it in 1841. Nine recently acquired Fairfax Media in 2018.
The SMH is now read by a record 9.4 million people across print and digital, according to Emma figure, with more than 60% of revenue across Nine’s publishing assets now coming from readers digital subscriptions.
Who owns The Sydney Morning Herald?
Although originally started by John Fairfax, and owned by the Fairfax family then Fairfax Media Group, The Sydney Morning Herald is now owned by the merger of Fairfax Media and Nine into what is now Nine Entertainment Co.
