Comments on: Tindle claims 35pc sales boost for revamped weekly

By: streatham2

streatham2 — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:17:41 +0000

In my previous comment, I should have said “excluding the sports pages”, which I never look at

By: streatham2

streatham2 — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:24:55 +0000

I think Steve Dyson’s right to criticise some of the negative comments on this story.

But, the reality is that hyperlocal papers are simply not what is being produced. “hmmmm” comments that the papers slip P1-3 of the main paper, but that doesn’t convey just how little local content there is in the paper.

Let’s look at the first edition of the “Streatham & South London Press” (and bear in mind that the paper’s offices are actually in Streatham edition). Apart from the front page pics of a Streatham jubilee street party, there is a story ofsomeone appearing on stage who used to go to school in Streatham, but he doesn’t live in the town; there’s a fund-raising event for a Streatham charity, but that’s taking place in central London; there’s a report of a violent attack on Streatham High Road, but the victim isn’t named.

Apart from a letter from a Streatham resident, that’s it: the only other time the word Streatham appears in the paper is on the paper’s masthead and in the publisher’s address.

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By: hmmmm

hmmmm — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:53:55 +0000

Steve,

My point here is that I imagine every local paper achieved sale increases during Jubilee week not dissimilar to these figures.
Having seen these editions they are not hyperlocal editions just slip 1-3 of the main paper.
Let’s see if sales are sustained when the public realise they are not getting what was originally promised.
If he does I will shower the old genius with lavish praise on his foresight and acumen.

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By: Paul Warren

Paul Warren — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:34:58 +0000

Well done, Peter. Well done, Sir Ray. Ignore the usual HTFP ingrates and whingers and celebrate your achievement.

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By: Also a former SLP reporter

Also a former SLP reporter — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:42:47 +0000

Obviously great news that the new hyperlocals seem popular (thought they might be) but the question is surely that after losing so many staff from the editorial team, will the remaining few be able to keep up the momentum to produce these titles every week?

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By: Former SLP reporter...

Former SLP reporter... — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:15:25 +0000

Come on Steve, wise up.

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By: Steve Dyson

Steve Dyson — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:39:50 +0000

Blimey, guys! I mean, I understand the reason for critical comments on the constant slash and burn stories, but does anything even slightly positive have to be met with such cynicism?

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By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:26:49 +0000

Something to rejoice about…seems if more papers took hyerlocal route there’d be more of a future for good ole newsprint and I’d have more of a chance of getting off the benefits nightmare..given the areas covered its going to be more sex, drugs and RnR than missing moggies and even when I was biggish fish in small pond of weeklies covering ‘leafy’ Surrey and Middlesex still managed to mix the punchy, not to mention some damn fine campaiging stuff, with townswomens’ guild element..shame many provisional dailies with staff numbers decimated don’t have the time for gritty investigative journalism anymore and reporters having to spend so much time just rehashing press releases to fill holes..

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By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:04:45 +0000

Judicious launch date with lots of pics of street parties to whack a few sales on to its normal run. Wonder what it’ll be like when the hyperlocals are running hyperlocal fornt pages about missing cats.

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By: hmmmm

hmmmm — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 07:50:16 +0000

*cough* Jubilee Week *cough*.

What are sales like for the week after guys?

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