The Lowestoft Journal has been given a bright new look as part of a project to redesign and relaunch a number of weekly titles published by Archant.

The newspaper group plans to revamp all of its titles in its Norfolk Weekly Series, and the Journal is the first to get a makeover.

The changes follow extensive reader research, and focus groups were held to gauge reaction to the title and what people liked and disliked about the paper.

As part of the new look, the Journal has been given a new masthead, more in-paper branding, a new series of typefaces and a host of new features.

A special section for campaigning issues has been created, together with a new business section.

A new weekly column called And on the Younger Side will also be written by local teenager Kim Betts, who will choose her own topic to write about each week and then invite readers to send in their comments.

The newspaper's sports coverage has also been extended to include up to 12 pages and the nostalgia section has been renamed Turning Back The Clock.

Editor Russell Cook, who joined the paper 14 months ago, said: "There's been a great deal of work put into the redesign and I can't thank enough all those individuals involved in helping me. I'm really pleased with the finished product.

"I've already had positive feedback from a number of contacts but the acid test is our readers and their perception of The Journal's new look.

"But I'm confident that they will approve of what's been done and that The Journal will continue to thrive."

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