The Examiner is Australia’s third oldest newspaper and was founded in 1842 on a hand press smuggled into Tasmania (then known as Van Diemens Land) disguised as brewery machinery.

The first three editions of The Examiner were free after which it sold for sixpence, a reasonable sum for the day. Fifty years later it sold for a penny an edition.
The newspaper was founded by businessman James Aikenhead, but Reverend John West is widely considered among a principal founder and was its first editor.
In its 180-year-history The Examiner has had only 19 editors, with the paper currently under the leadership of Craig Thomson. The masthead also has had two female editors.

The Examiner services primarily the Northern Tasmanian region and is located in the region’s largest city, Launceston. It covers the area from Deloraine in the North-West, through to Launceston and its readership covers areas as far as George Town, Derby, and the East Coast.

It covers nine local government areas and the communities in between and has journalists who cover important rounds such as health, local government and environment. It also shares a team of reporters in Hobart to cover state government and politics.

As a masthead, we are proud to serve our community and has had a long and successful history in campaign journalism, to advocate for change and reform on behalf of the community.

The Examiner remains a strong editorial voice for its region and has worked hard to ensure important stories are told and its readers’ voices are heard.
It publishes seven days a week in print and online.

Office Address:
113 Cimitiere Street
Launceston, TAS, 7250
Phone: 03 6336 7111

Postal address:
PO Box 99, Launceston 7249

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

Newsdesk
Phone: 03 6336 7377
Email: mail@examiner.com.au

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Editor
Craig Thomson
Phone: 03 6336 7377
Email: editor@examiner.com.au

Deputy editor
Melissa Mobbs
Phone: 03 6336 7385
Email: editor@examiner.com.au