A newspaper in Cornwall is believed to be the first to produce an in-house DVD from start to finish from scratch – and give it away free to readers.

The latest edition of The West Briton for the Helston area includes a 90-minute disc about the town’s historic Flora Day festival.

The DVD has been put together by the newspaper’s digital editor Gareth Bartlett, working with editorial colleagues and the marketing department.

To get the final product to readers at the earliest opportunity meant an under-pressure shoot on the day and through-the-night editing and mastering.

The DVD was ready for despatch the next morning, when the process of replicating 12,000 discs using a professional firm began.

To help the quick turn-around, the team prepared seven bonus features to accompany the 45-minutes of dancing from the day itself – using the local reporter and community editor to present items about the traditional event, interviews with those involved and passionate words from local people who love Flora Day.

Rounding off the disc are three slideshows, featuring over 150 Flora pictures from 1883 to the present day.

West Briton editor-in-chief Andy Cooper: “It was a fantastic effort by the team to turn round this DVD in such a short space of time.

“It is very gratifying for me to see our journalists using their multimedia skills in this fashion.

“Early indications are that the newspaper is flying off the shelves as customers rush to get their hands on the DVD so it has proved to be a very joined-up way to promote and sell our entire portfolio.”

Comments

“disappointed” of Helston (30/05/2008 10:37:35)
I am very disappointed that our “local” press have stolen a brilliant idea from a new Cornish enterprise who have apparently been working on this since August last year. This free DVD is only worth what it costs, shows little of the interesting bits of the day (and less of the Hal-an-Tow), and appears to be nothing but a “spoiling tactic” for the real film. I am looking forward to seeing the professionally made film I have ordered, and am disgusted at the antics of the West Briton.