The Carlisle News & Star has been redesigned because it was focusing on “too many features and not enough news”.

The paper has now assigned district reporters to each area of Carlisle and is promising readers “more news, more views and more sport”.

It has introduced a two-page letters section and has switched from a five to a six-column grid as it aims to print more news at the front of the paper, also increasing pagination by eight pages a night.

Deputy editor Richard Eccles said: “We started getting feedback that the balance of news and features needed pulling back to become more of a news paper.

“We now have a new features department instead of a joint news and features desk.

“We found we were producing too many features and not enough news so now there are two focused teams.

“We have set up city zone reporters who are going back to basics on the beat and getting stories from post offices, vicars and community police officers.”

Richard also said the News & Star was making more judicious use of colour and reducing its use of colour washes.

The alterations are part of a “year of change” for the paper.

In January it brought its screen time forward from 11.35am to 9.45am in a bid to hit the streets earlier in the day.

This followed feedback from retailers who commented that people were taking their lunch breaks earlier and were unable to buy the paper because it would not be available.

Sales figures have subsequently increased for the first six months of 2004.

Richard said: “The response has been very good internally and it has put changes that we have already made into focus. They have all come together with the design change.”

Get in touch with your news
E-mail [email protected]

Back to the Analysis index