Messenger Newspapers is the publisher of 9 free suburban weekly newspapers together covering the Adelaide metropolitan area. Established by Roger Baynes in Port Adelaide in 1951, Messenger has since acquired other independent suburban titles to become Adelaide's only suburban newspaper group. The paper is a subsidiary of News Limited and is affiliated with The Adelaide Advertiser.[1] The Messenger is delivered weekly to 9 different suburban areas, each paper targeting content to its distribution area with some shared content.
The newspapers cover events in the distribution area, including local council decisions, controversial developments, local social trends, articles about local volunteers or young people, and local sports clubs. There is an editorial and "letters to the editor" page, as well as significant classifieds and real estate sections. All Messenger titles feature regular sections such as lifestyle, Vibe (entertainment guide), Sport, and Your Garden.
In mid-2009, Messenger Newspapers moved from its headquarters at 1 Baynes Place, Port Adelaide to new offices at Sir Keith Murdoch House, 31 Waymouth St, Adelaide. The Adelaide Advertiser, Sunday Mail and various other News Ltd publications are also based in Sir Keith Murdoch House.
In 2016, News Corp SA announced changes to content and distribution of some of its titles, including renaming several mastheads,[2] followed by additional changes in 2017, including mergers of several mastheads.[3] In May 2020, as a result of issues related to the coronavirus, several News publications (Messenger South Plus; Messenger East Plus, Messenger North, Messenger West, Messenger City, Adelaide Hills, and Upper Spencer Gulf) became digital only.[4]