Readers of the Evening Gazette on Teesside have seen an important change to their newspaper – but it’s only seven words.

The Gazette’s strapline – the motto that appears in the paper every day and in promotional material – has become The
Heart & Soul Of Your Community.

The decision to change from It’s part of the family came after market research and other feedback showed the way people felt about their newspaper had changed.

Editor Steve Dyson believes the paper is being accepted as part of the family and now wants to get closer to what matters in the readers’ lives.

He said readers felt the paper’s personality had changed and improved to become that of a “friendly Teessider” – and more detailed analysis had found that readers liked the way it was tackling community topics and championing the area and its people.

He said: “While we are happy that the paper has repositioned itself far more towards the warm approach wanted by the family market, we in no way want to rest on any laurels or become complacent about our image.

“And, as we worked on a new business plan to follow in the years ahead, that is why we decided to reflect our direction with a news strapline and a new promise.”

It builds on other work at the Middlesbrough-based Gazette, such as improving relations and coverage with outlying areas – and never refusing an invitation to a public meeting in its circulation area.

And Steve has promised to take on challenges uncovered by readers by focusing concern from the community to put pressure on the authorities on behalf of the readers.

Recent examples of this include campaigning for staff under threat at the Corus steelworks and moves to protect maternity services in Guisborough.

He added: “We will report news, views and sports, but we will do so in an ever more interactive fashion, encouraging readers to air their opinions about issues, and sometimes providing a live forum for this to happen.

“All content published by and activity associated with the Evening Gazette should be passionate, entertaining, interactive, essential and, most importantly, of interest to our local communities.”

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