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Free newspaper celebrates its first birthday

A free newspaper launched last year to cover three towns in West Norfolk is preparing to celebrate its first birthday.

Your Local Paper is published each Friday and circulates in Kings Lynn, Hunstanton and Downham Market.

After launching with an initial print run of 20,000 it has now upped this by 2,000 and has increased pagination and employed extra staff.

Journalist Sue Irving and graphic artist Paul Cooper have joined the original launch team of editor Donna Semmens and managing director Alan Taylor.

Said Alan:  “Your Local Paper has gone from strength-to-strength and we are all delighted with the way the last 12 months have gone.

“It has been a hectic year and we have worked hard, but the advertisers have supported us since the first week and continue to do so. We have more enquiries each week and the future is looking great for the team.”

Added Donna: “The emphasis has always been on ‘local’ and the readers certainly appreciate that we are in the heart of the town and know what makes West Norfolk tick.

“The way Your Local Paper has been accepted is brilliant and we are very appreciative of everyone who has supported what we are doing and look forward to a long and happy relationship.”

Donna, who has worked as a journalist in Norfolk for 25 years, was previously news editor at the Johnston Press Lynn News for 13 years and has also been deputy editor of the Diss Express.

Alan has previously worked at the Lynn News and at the Archant-owned Eastern Daily Press.

Tomorrow’s birthday edition will be 76 pages – a big increase on the 48-paghe launch edition on 15 March 15 last year.

The paper is available from a range of outlets, including supermarkets and newsagents as well as being given-out to shoppers in town centres.

4 comments

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  • March 13, 2014 at 11:04 am
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    Congratulations to all the team at Your Local Paper on a first successful year
    With West Norfolk having been ignored by the big boys from Norwich yet with a sudden unsurprising interest in our communities when this paper emerged its refreshing to see a tremendous free paper for the area doing so well.Long may you reign as champions of the west of the county and long may you remain independent

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  • March 13, 2014 at 7:14 pm
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    Well done Alan, Gary, Donna and the rest of the team, not forgetting Karen, of course.
    You showed ’em.

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  • March 14, 2014 at 8:21 am
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    Well done everyone on a cracking little free NEWS paper all about west Norfolk and Lynn and yes we had been ignored by Archant until you came along so I hope and encourage local businessss to continue to support you.
    It’s good to know your team are all local people who know the area too,not salespeople shipped in from Norwich who are only interested in grabbing any commercial revenues they can get their hands on. I too hope you remain independant and continue to thrive

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