Three East Midlands dailies have scrapped their city final editions this week as they completed the move to overnight printing.

Both the Leicester Mercury and The Sentinel, Stoke have moved from four editions to three while the Derby Evening Telegraph has moved from two editions to a single overnight edition.

In addition, the Telegraph has dropped the “evening” from its masthead and will now be known simply as the Derby Telegraph.

The move coincides with the switch in news and feature-page production to Nottingham as part of the plans for a regional subbing hub.

Editor Steve Hall said the morning edition of the Telegraph introduced more than three years ago has consistently out-performed the evening issue in circulation terms.

Breaking news during the day will now be covered on the paper’s website, thisisderbyshire.co.uk.

Mr Hall added: “We will update the site more than ever before. This will also apply in the evenings and weekends.

“Our automatic response to any news break will be to get something immediately on to the web and we will continue to update developing stories throughout each day.”

The Sentinel’s three editions will cover Cheshire, Staffordshire Moorlands and a main edition which will be distributed throughout the paper’s core area but which will not carry an edition seal.

Editor Mike Sassi said: “For several years, readers have chosen to buy their paper earlier and earlier. So we have decided to make a break with the past and give you what you want – a comprehensive and credible local news service at the start of the day.”

The Mercury will publish a City edition available from 6am, and two county editions available from around 9.30am.

Managing director Steve Hollingsworth said: “Our hopes and aspirations are that the earlier print time will allow us to pick up important sales during the travel to work period.”

Comments

dave (23/04/2009 10:27:30)
“So we have decided to make a break with the past and give you what you want – a comprehensive and credible local news service at the start of the day.”
Nothing to do with money then?

Johnno (23/04/2009 10:34:48)
“…a comprehensive and credible local news service at the start of the day.” For “comprehensive and credible” read “day old”.

Eldridge Manning (23/04/2009 11:05:51)
The very very worst thing about cutbacks is when they are presented as an improvement. This really is the pits and those responsible should hang their heads in shame. If you’re short of cash and are making cuts, at least have the guts to tell readers that.

Mr_Osato (23/04/2009 11:17:08)
One wonders how the Derby Telegraph or any other newspaper would treat the managers of a local firm who came out with this sort of sophistry. Suspect it wouldn’t be kind. One particular line struck me; “For several years, readers have chosen to buy their paper earlier and earlier.” As opposed to – you’ve been selling them earlier and earlier? Anybody aware of a peculiar brand of reader who, on seeing their local newspaper of choice on sale, thinks ‘no, it’s too early, I’ll come back and buy that later.’ Me neither. Stopwatch on.

Lister (23/04/2009 15:26:04)
Hey, Mr_Osato. If people are wanting their news “earlier and earlier”, then logic dictates that the time will come when they want it the night before. What happens then? It’s 3.23pm now. I think I’ll go and have my breakfast while I dwell upon this one.

St George (23/04/2009 21:27:10)
Hey Osato, are you really still part of this industry after all this time? I thought you got disaffected with Newsquest looong ago and left for something more enjoyable? You must really love it!