THE dirty end of mining is the focus of a new publication to be launched by the Resource Information Unit (RIU) next month.
The Australian Mining Times, a tabloid format newspaper, will target exploration and the junior resource companies in the industry.
“Other publications tend to deal with the corporate end of mining,” RIU chief executive officer Simon Hadfield said.
“This new publication will deal with the working end of mining.”
Mr Hadfield hopes to capture a share of the supply and equipment market that services the big resource sector in WA.
“It’s a big industry with about 81,000 employees Australia wide,” he said.
“And that’s not counting the support industry.
“Most of these employees have an average income of about $70,000 a year, which is a lot.”
Renewed interest in resources on the stock market and a number of major projects in the north of the State has renewed interest in the mining sector, Mr Hadfield claimed.
“We’ve had a very good response from advertisers,” he said.
RIU currently publishes three products – the Gold Gazette, the Minerals Gazette and the Oil and Gas Gazette.
“We’re already the biggest publisher in terms of total commitment to the mining industry,” Mr Hadfield said.
The Australian Mining Times will be launched in the middle of May and it’s understood Haydn Black, who currently writes for the Gold Gazette and the Mining Gazette will step into the role of editor.
Details of the cost of the publication have not yet been announced.
The local oil and gas publishing market contracted recently following the closure of Aspermont ’s Oil and Gas News, leaving just two players, RIU and Energy Publications, vying for vital advertising revenue.
However, Aspermont still owns Australia’s Mining Monthly, which continues to retain a strong hold on the market.
