Star Observer

Star Observer
TypeMonthly magazine
FormatTabloid and online
Owner(s)Out Publications (since 20 June 2019)
PublisherOut Publications
Staff writers2
Founded1979
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersUltimo, NSW, Australia
Circulation20,000 (June 2021)
ISSN0819-5129
OCLC number26727666
Websitewww.starobserver.com.au Edit this at Wikidata

The Star Observer is a free monthly magazine and online newspaper that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities in Australia.[1][2][3]

Since 20 June 2019 the Star Observer has been owned by media company Out Publications.[4][5]

History and readership

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The newspaper was initially published by Michael Glynn as a tabloid in 1979 under the name The Sydney Star[6] and is the oldest and largest publication of its kind in Australia.[7] In 1982 the paper changed its name, becoming The Star (1982–1985), later undergoing several name changes, including Sydney's Star Observer (1986–1987), Sydney Star Observer (1987–2014; 2019 onwards) and Star Observer (2014-2019).

The typical profile of the audience is aged between 23 years and 50 years, with a higher than average income level.[8] With a 2015 audited circulation in excess of 15,000 per month, the publishers at that time claimed a readership exceeding 41,000 readers in print and 100,000+ online.[8]

In late 2013, Elias Jahshan was appointed editor; shortly afterwards, the publication ceased being a weekly newspaper and became a monthly magazine. Subsequent editors have included Corey Sinclair, Andrew M. Potts and Peter Hackney.

The current editors, as of January 2020, are Douglas Magaletti (print edition) and Shibu Thomas (digital).

On 20 June 2019 it was reported that the Star Observer was saved from voluntary administration by media company Out Publications.[4][5]

In mid-2019, Out Publications began a sister publication in Melbourne, the Melbourne Star Observer. Its contents are identical to the Sydney title except that local advertisements are inserted. A homonymous masthead, founded in 1985 by Danny Vadasz of Gay Publications Co-operative Ltd., was in circulation until 2000.[9][10][11]

Format and content

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In hardcopy tabloid format, The Star (as it is commonly known) is published on the third Thursday of each month and is distributed to numerous locations in Sydney and Melbourne.[8] Copies can be found in cafés, libraries, cinemas, theatres, 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.

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.

Notable coverage

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The Star Observer extensively covered the campaign to decriminalise homosexuality in New South Wales, which was enacted on May 22 1984 by the Parliament of New South Wales.[12][13]

During the AIDS Epidemic, the Star Observer ran in-depth articles concerning public prejudice, medical treatments and insurance claim problems.[14]

The Star Observer also extensively covered Gay Gang Murders by youths that occurred in Sydney over several decades, including the murder of Scott Johnson, and the murder of Richard Johnson by the 'Alexandria Eight'. Journalist Martyn Goddard who had replaced Tim Carrigan as Star Observer Editor in 1989,[15] covered the story both in the Star, and the Sydney Morning Herald.[16][17][18]

Community support

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The shareholders of the publishing company have never drawn dividends from any profits generated by the Star Observer.[6] Instead, the Star Observer 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.[8]

References

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  1. ^ 'Sydney Star Observer'. National Library of Australia. ISSN:1837-090X.
  2. ^ The Sydney Star Observer: 1980-1990. 'Special Collections: Living Histories'. University of Newcastle (Australia).
  3. ^ Star Observer. LGBT community centre, Victoria (state).
  4. ^ a b "The Star Observer has been saved". Star Observer. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Bakker, Richard (19 June 2019). "Star Observer saved by established publisher". QNews. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b "About - History". Star Online. Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited. 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Star Observer". Members. Gay and Lesbian Australian Media Alliance. 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d "2009–2010 Media Kit". SSO Media. Gay & Lesbian Community Publishing Limited. 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  9. ^ Thomas, Shibu (12 July 2021). "Danny Vadasz: The Man Who Built A Gay Media Empire Starting In Melbourne". Star Observer. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Chronolgy of Australian LGBTI+ periodicals" (PDF). Australian Queer Archives. 24 August 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  11. ^ OCLC 1164137222
  12. ^ "Decriminalisation of Homosexuality Thirtieth Anniversary". Legislative Assembly Hansard. Parliament of New South Wales. 28 May 2014.
  13. ^ Jahshan, Elias (22 May 2014). "30 years on: Star Observer's front cover when being gay in NSW was decriminalised". New South Wales: Star Observer. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  14. ^ Bell, Terrence (14 October 1988). "Insurers say "NO WAY"". Sydney Star Observer. Retrieved 20 August 2023 – via University of Newcastle Living Histories.
  15. ^ "A chronology of LGBTIQ+ communities and movements in Sydney from 1969 to 2018: 1989" (PDF). Sydney's Pride History Group. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  16. ^ Goddard, Martyn (6 April 1991). "Seeds Of Tolerance: In The Gay Killing Fields". Spectrum. Sydney Morning Herald. p. 39.
  17. ^ Goddard, Martyn (25 January 1991). "Death Boast". Star Observer. Front page.
  18. ^ Wade, Matthew (23 September 2016). "The Sydney gay beat murders revealed". Star Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2023.

Further reading

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