The Maitland Mercury is proud to be involved in Fairfax Regional Media’s new social media site aimed specifically at the four million women who live in regional and rural Australia.
Called connectpink.com.au, the site will capitalise on the growing number of women who are adopting social media as an important extension of their existing networks, communities and friendship groups.
connectpink.com.au will be launched by the Governor General, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, on Friday near Canberra.
The Maitland Mercury will get in early by hosting a barbecue lunch for Maitland women on Wednesday at the paper’s new premises at 6/555 High Street.
Fairfax Regional Media Chief Executive Officer and Publisher Allan Browne said connectpink.com.au would combine the best aspects of social media with meaningful news, information and online shopping opportunities.
“Women in regional Australia have a strong sense of community and a genuine desire participate and to be connected,” Mr Browne said.
“We want to give them a social media site that encapsulates those qualities.”
That sense of community has led to a unique partnership between connectPink and the McGrath Foundation, whereby the connectPink community will support the work of breast care nurses in regional and rural Australia through fund-raising.
Fairfax Regional Media publishes 220 printed mastheads and 160 news websites across regional Australia.
The websites alone attract more than 22 million hits and 2 million unique browsers a month.
“Fairfax Regional Media already has a very strong footprint outside our metropolitan cities and this initiative will further develop that strength,” Mr Browne said.
Both its print and digital products will be used heavily to drive membership to connectpink.com.au
The site will provide unique opportunities for local businesses to set up their own mini websites within connectpink.com.au
“Our feedback from retailers is that they want an easy, convenient and affordable way to move into the digital space,” Mr Browne said. “connectpink.com.au will give them
that.”
Fairfax Regional Media has also formed a partnership with the McGrath Foundation to help it raise funds to continue its work in providing experienced breast care nurses in rural and regional Australia.
“Through its programs, the McGrath Foundation provides valuable support to women and their families in the very same areas where our newspapers operate,” Mr Brown said.
“In that sense, it’s the perfect partnership between the two organisations.”
* Don’t miss the Mercury’s
special 4-page connectpink feature this Friday.
