When was The Age newspaper founded?
The Age was founded on the 17th of October 1854 in Melbourne, Australia, by brothers John and Henry Cooke and Walter Powell. It has been published continuously since that first edition.
Questions about The Age
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who owns The Age newspaper?
The Age is owned by Nine Entertainment Co., which merged with Fairfax Media on the 26th of July 2018. Nine shareholders hold 51.1 per cent of the combined entity and Fairfax shareholders hold 48.9 per cent.
Who was David Syme and what role did he play at The Age?
David Syme was the brother of original buyer Ebenezer Syme and became editor-in-chief of The Age when Ebenezer died in 1860. He held that position until his own death in 1908, building the paper into Victoria's leading newspaper with a circulation of a hundred thousand copies a day by 1890.
What major investigations has The Age been known for?
The Age is known for several landmark investigations, including the 1984 Age Tapes affair that triggered the Stewart Royal Commission, reporting between 2009 and 2015 that led to Australia's first foreign bribery prosecutions, and coverage of the Unaoil bribery scandal that drew anti-corruption investigations across nine countries. Journalist Adele Ferguson won the Gold Walkley in 2016 for reporting that contributed to a Royal Commission into Australia's financial services industry.
Who was the first woman to edit The Age?
Gay Alcorn became the first woman to serve as editor of The Age, appointed in September 2020. She had previously worked as the paper's Washington correspondent and left the position in December 2022.
What format does The Age use today?
The Age switched from its traditional broadsheet format to a smaller tabloid, or compact, format in March 2013. It is published in both print and digital formats and shares some articles with its sister paper the Sydney Morning Herald.