An independent weekly newspaper launched six years ago has unveiled a new tablet and mobile app.
Readers of the Cleethorpes Chronicle will now be able to download copies of the paper to their mobile phone or iPad each Thursday for £1.99 per month.
The Chronicle, which has a cover price of 45p, was launched in 2008 by Nigel Lowther, a former deputy editor of the Grimsby Telegraph.
The new app represents the paper’s first foray into digital publishing, having resisted the idea of putting content on a website for free.
Said Nigel: “Since we began publishing the paper more than six-and-a-half years ago people have asked us about going online.
“But we’ve always resisted giving content away free on the web when it costs us money to produce it.
“We don’t believe traditional regional newspaper sites have worked. They have not achieved projected revenue streams and have also had a dramatic downward impact on newspaper sales.
“The app enables readers across the globe to keep up-to-date with their Cleethorpes news every week at minimal cost,” he added.
Managing director and joint owner Mark Webb said the app launch was an investment in the future. “We believe this to be the first app of its kind in the UK for an independent newspaper,” he said.
“It opens up new opportunities for businesses and organisations advertising with the Cleethorpes Chronicle.”
Subscribers can choose to pay either £1.99 per month, £10.99 over six months or £20.99 annually to download the paper.
The Chronicle has also revamped its website www.cleethorpeschronicle.co.uk with more inter-active features – but it still does not contain news.
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He said it. “We don’t believe tradional regional newspaper sites have worked”. Directors across UK are facing that.
£1.99 is a fair price for the level and quality of news dished up by most weekly papers, with all due respect to reporters.
Good luck.
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Well done that man. I’ve been saying it for years – why on earth do senior managers at the ‘big’ companies think putting everything on the website for nowt before printing is a great idea. They are the first to moan that sales are dropping but can’t see the link. Doh.
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According to the Chronicle’s media pack, it ‘operates a hybrid model’ for the paper, ‘free to selected homes.’ So it does give news away for free.
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This looks like a most excellent wheeze. And as for Ho Hum’s comment about giving away news using the “hybrid model”, I edited three of those. Yes, some editions are free to readers but the larger guaranteed circulation means the advertisers are happy which means higher income. As long as someone pays something at sometime it sort of works.
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Its been said before on HTFP. Web sites must be immediate. Council decisions last night? On first thing next morning latest. Same for routine stuff liked football results, fires, etc. Three days later is unprofessional.
Given that, this might work.
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