A regional press publisher has launched two more editions of its ‘Recorder’ Series from the east of the capital.

Archant London is now publishing a Brentwood edition of the Romford Recorder while the Ilford Recorder team is producing an edition for Loughton and Buckhurst Hill (left).

Merchandisers hand out the papers in high streets and at rail stations to home-coming commuters while copies are also available bins placed in the town centres.

The move follows on from the launch last June of the Woodford Recorder.

John Hooker, publishing director Essex and London East, said: “These are exciting times. We are delighted to produce these two new newspapers to build on the success of Woodford.

“It is extremely encouraging to see how well all these editions are being received.

“By not compromising on quality we now have thousands of new readers who are appreciating the many benefits of the Recorder brand.

“This instant increase in readership – and appeal to advertisers – simply would not have been possible by following a paid-for paper’s more traditional route to a new market.”

Comments

Indolent (05/03/2010 08:07:54)
Perhaps the reason why Mr Hooker decided not to go down the “more traditional route” of the paid-for-paper is because that would involve employing more reporters and genuine investment in local journalism. Instead, with a new free title designed purely to increase flagging ad revenue you can basically reproduce a ready written title, the Ilford Recorder, change a few pages around with localised “stories” (mainly a few re-written press releases) and, hey presto, a brand new shiny issue, the Loughton Recorder. Well done Mr Hooker, your strategy is a shining example to us all of quality local journalism.

redolent (05/03/2010 10:57:25)
Well done indolent you’ve got the wrong end of the stick – I’d hate to sub your copy. The launch is a genuine move to extend the footprint of the papers and yes bring in more revenue. But surely that’s no bad thing as it will protect jobs like yours. By the way most of us don’t understand the concept of rewriting press releases – we try to do a proper job. Another example of a dinosaur journo who has no concept of how newspapers work.

hizzary (05/03/2010 11:34:17)
The Recorder group? In snobby Loughton? When I worked for the E&I (anyone remember that?) the thought of a Recorder product getting its grubby, crime-ridden mitts on our leafy middle-class patch was anathema. We doubted their male reporters even owned a collar and tie and they always sent their girls to cover anything in our area because there wasn’t any nasty, macho, exciting crime involved – just cattle and the odd dead body in the Forest. If Archant can penetrate, good luck to ’em – I doubt that Newsquest’s Guardian has invested the resources there for a long, lone time.