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Weekly publishes news in four different languages

A weekly newspaper has published news stories and adverts in four languages for the first time as it seeks to reflect its diverse community.

The Tyrone Courier, based in Dungannon and Cookstown in Northern Ireland, has this week published content in Lithuanian, Polish and Portugese, as well as in English.

The title, which is published by the Alpha Newspaper Group, has made the move because 10pc of its local population do not have English as their first language.

It hopes the introduction of the languages will help local people from Europe to feel more integrated into the community. 

A page in the Courier with stories in four different languages.

Jonathan Taylor, managing director of the newspaper group, said: “This investment by Alpha is based upon the fact that 10pc of the local population have European languages as their first language.

“Many of them work in the meat and poultry industries and contribute to the economy by their taxes and purchases in our local retail outlets.

“Alpha, with a circulation of 68,000 is the largest weekly newspaper group in Northern Ireland, and we hope that by introducing these languages local people from Eastern Europe will feel more integrated into the community and identify with it.”

The Courier is the largest weekly title in the Alpha Newspaper Group, which publishes around 15 weekly newspapers and six radio stations in Northern Ireland.

Earlier this month, the group announced plans to close the Carrickfergus Advertiser and the Ballyclare Gazette, with the loss of six editorial positions.

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  • January 28, 2014 at 3:17 pm
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    Will The Cornishman be publishing a Cornish language edition on the back of this?
    It’s been a while since we heard any exciting news from that august newspaper so wondered if it’s Editor had any announcements for us…?

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