A new community paper for Asian communities across Glasgow has been launched by Archant Scotland’s Glasgow Extra series.

The monthly Asian Extra will be distributed free to Asian advertisers and communities in the area, and will include 16-pages of news, views and reviews.

The new publication is the brainchild of Aruna Hallan, who joined the company as special publications assistant in April, and came up with the idea while working on one of the group’s other publications, Bride & Groom.

Aruna and Allan with the new title

After sharing her idea with special publications executive Bob Paterson and advertising manager Sandra Weatherston, a team from the sales, editorial and production departments got to work, with Aruna coordinating the launch of the new title.

Aruna said: “I think it is a superb publication.

“Asians in Glasgow desperately needed a publication to call their own and to represent their community.

“The only way Scottish Asians could access news and features was to pay over the counter for specialist publications produced in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Leicester.

“Nothing was produced up here – until the Asian Extra came along.”

Extra editor Allan Hodge said: “The Asian Extra is a distinctive voice for all of Glasgow’s communities – raising their concerns, challenging myths and providing a platform for debate and discussion.

“Scotland’s ethnic minorities – from whatever part of the world their forbears hailed from – make an enormous contribution to our broader, civic society and one of our pledges is to recognise the commitment, dedication and expertise of those who have made a difference in Scottish society.”

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