Johnston Press (JP) is publishing the first wave of its relaunched newspapers this week with 22 redesigned titles.
It is the first step in the company's strategy to relaunch all its 170 paid-for titles as integrated digital and print hybrid offerings.
The first phase includes five regional daily titles moving to a weekly print format backed by 24/7 digital updates on their websites. They are the Peterborough Evening Telegraph, Northampton Chronicle & Echo, Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, Scarborough Evening News and Halifax Courier.
JP chief executive Ashley Highfield said: "For these five the internet will become the hourly and daily pulse of the community – all five will also have iPad apps - with a physical paper provided once a week for analysis, review and comment. We expect to see an overall increase in readership and profitability as a result."
Other newspapers relaunching this week, moving from broadsheet to compact format, are the Northumberland Gazette, Harrogate Advertiser, Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald, Knaresborough Post, Wetherby News, Ripon Gazette & Boroughbridge Herald, West Sussex County Times and Bucks Herald.
Three free newspapers in the north-east – the Washington Star, Peterlee Star and Seaham &Houghton Star – will be relaunched as paid-fors.
And six other titles - the Mansfield Chad, Derbyshire Times, Eastwood Advertiser, Ilkeston Advertiser, Belper News and Ripley & Heanor News - will also be relaunched in this first phase.
Each of the relaunches will be supported by a marketing campaign, including outdoor advertising, online media and local promotional activity. Two advertising agencies – Elvis Communications and McCann – have created and planned the campaign.
It is the start of a rolling programme of relaunches set to continue throughout the year.
Highfield said: "My ambition is for all of our titles to be more relevant in this digital age, not less relevant, and the relaunches will put us on the right path to engaging even more productively with our audiences."
Source: Newspaper Society
