The Oxford Courier Journal has gone “back to the future” – relaunching its editions with their original names but with a bright, modern redesign.

After being taken over by Tri Media Publishing Ltd from Milestone Group plc, the paper has replaced its four editions – the North, West and South Oxford Courier Journals and the Oxford City Journal – with two editions, the South Oxfordshire Courier and the Oxford Journal.

Group editor Lawrence Webb said the new look of the papers aimed to capture a younger audience – similar to the recent launch of thelondonpaper and London Lite.

He said: “Now we have been taken over by Howard Taylor’s Tri Media Publishing Ltd, he has agreed to go back to the future… old names, new look.

“The advent and success of free newspapers across the country and the world shows that consumers like them, and our new, modern look, based on two traditional titles, is the best of both worlds.

“The Oxford Journal was at the forefront of the free newspaper revolution in England in the 1970s, so it is good that the bigger groups have realised they need to get in on the act.

“The new papers in London and the Metro success show that readers want to read free papers with real content, which is what we’ve been providing for years.

“We intend to give our readers, new and old, all their favourite features, but wrapped up in a modern, funky package that aims to be as appealing to those much-sought after ABC1s under 35, as it is to families and older folk.”

The joint distribution of the papers is 68,375 copies a week.

The new-look South Oxfordshire Courier