Nick Samaras and Julie Samaras started Canberra Weekly in 2009 with a small team of just four (including them), which has since grown considerably. Their eldest son Denholm was a journalist at Canberra Weekly for five years and their second son Vincent continues to work in the business.
How does your family business contribute to the local community?
Right from the beginning, serving the community has always been one of our guiding principles. Canberra Weekly sponsors several local charities, including Lifeline Canberra, RSPCA ACT, Ronald McDonald House and more, while we also promote community events through our magazine and website.
Do you feel it’s important to support other local family businesses?
Absolutely! Local family businesses are such a crucial part of our region so it’s important to support them whenever possible, especially given just how tough the last few years have been with the pandemic.
How has your family business adapted to changes in the industry?
The media landscape has changed dramatically over the past 15 years, so we’ve shifted to having a bigger online and social media presence. We had a few issues getting a daily content website up and running, but since its launch in March 2020, it has continued to grow. Our magazine pick-up remains strong to this day, but there’s no denying the need for daily updates on our website and social media platforms as the world continues to evolve.
What roles do different family members play in the business?
Nick is the founding publisher and continues to play an important role in running the business today. Julie is the founding editor and works tirelessly to put the magazine together every week and keep the content coming on our website every day. Denholm was a journalist here for five years and helped get the website up and running before moving to Brisbane for the sunshine last year. As General Manager, I (Vincent) like to help out where possible, whether it be assisting with distribution, editorial or marketing, I enjoy being involved in many ways.
What values guide your family business?
Doing right by our community is something we have held as a priority since day one. Whether it be choosing which stories to run, or which events to cover, we constantly think about what our readers want. Led by our editor Julie, creating an uplifting environment in the magazine has always been a focus. We try to focus on the positives of our great city and talk about the many reasons to be grateful to be here.
Contact details
T: 02 6175 8800
FB: @canberraweekly
Insta: @canberraweekly
