News Corp Launches California Post to Target West Coast Print Audience

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has announced plans to launch The California Post, a new daily print tabloid based in Los Angeles, set to debut in 2025. The publication will mirror the irreverent and politically assertive style of the New York Post, which has long been a staple of the East Coast media scene. The move represents a rare foray into print journalism in an era of digital disruption, as the company seeks to expand its footprint into the West Coast’s largest media market [1].

The California Post will cover local politics, entertainment, business, and sports, with plans for a seven-day print edition, a dedicated website, and multimedia content. The publication will be led by Nick Papps, a long-time News Corp editor with experience in Australia, and Keith Poole, the New York Post’s editor-in-chief, who will also serve as an editorial advisor. The company emphasized that the California edition will draw on the New York Post’s national reporting while focusing on local issues [1].

This venture comes at a challenging time for the newspaper industry, which has seen over 3,200 closures since 2005, according to data from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. The shift to digital has transformed consumer habits and advertising models, making print survival increasingly difficult. However, the New York Post has maintained a strong print circulation of 515,883 on average weekday, the highest in the U.S. [1].

The California Post aims to target the city’s second-largest audience for the New York Post—readers in Southern California. With 3.5 million monthly unique visitors already accessing the Post’s digital platforms, the company sees an opportunity to convert that audience into a print and digital news hub in the region [1]. The venture is also viewed as a strategic challenge to The Los Angeles Times, which has struggled to redefine its editorial voice and business model since its 2018 acquisition by Patrick Soon-Shiong.

According to Danny Bakewell, president of the Los Angeles Press Club, the move could fill a gap in the market for a tabloid-style publication focused on local issues. “L.A. is always ready for good-quality news reporting,” he said, noting that the city has not had a dedicated tabloid in recent memory [1]. The California Post aims to offer an alternative with its signature bold headlines, sharp commentary, and a clear editorial stance that leans into cultural and political debates.

The New York Post’s history as a media disruptor, from its founding by Alexander Hamilton to its acquisition and revival under Rupert Murdoch, positions the California edition as a continuation of that legacy. The Post has previously broken major stories and influenced political discourse, with its Page Six column and front-page headlines becoming cultural touchstones. The California Post seeks to replicate that formula in a state known for its media influence and political complexity [1].

While the success of the new tabloid remains uncertain, the launch signals a renewed commitment by News Corp to print journalism. The company’s focus on suburban delivery markets—a strategy many competitors have abandoned—has helped sustain the New York Post’s circulation. Whether Southern California readers will embrace a new print model in an increasingly digital world remains to be seen [2].

Source: [1] The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/rupert-murdoch-california-post-la-times-battle-1236337519/)

[2] Yahoo News (https://ca.news.yahoo.com/york-post-coming-california-news-172059859.html)