Two Northcliffe-owned daily newspapers in the East Midlands are to be printed on Trinity Mirror presses in Birmingham from this month.
The Derby Telegraph is currently printed in Derby and the Nottingham Post in Stoke, but from 17 October the operation will be switched to Trinity’s plant at Wood Lane, Erdington.
Editors of both titles say the move will give them earlier print slots and thus enable them to be in the shops each morning from 6am.
Nottingham Post editor Malcolm Pheby said: “The real advantage of printing the Nottingham Post at Birmingham is being on sale earlier every day.
“All outlets will receive copies substantially earlier, ensuring that we can bring our exclusive local news content to the marketplace at the same time as the nationals and earlier than local radio and most online media.
“This provides an excellent opportunity for our newspaper sales and marketing teams to develop the sale.
“We’re giving Nottingham’s large commuter population, as well as our home-delivered customers, the chance to start the day with the city’s local paper. Now you can enjoy your Post with your toast!”
The Derby Telegraph is currently sharing its print facilities with the Daily Mail meaning its print times can vary.
Editor Steve Hall said that as well as giving the paper greater selling time in the marketplace, the change would also reduce distribution costs.
“The move will also allow us to distribute supplies to newsagents and other retailers via Smiths News, alongside the national titles. This will achieve significant cost-savings for our business,” he said.
It is not known whether any printroom jobs in Derby are affected but the Mail print contract is expected to safeguard the facility for the forseeable future.
Trinity Mirror declined to comment.
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“We can bring our exclusive local news content to the marketplace at the same time as the nationals and earlier than local radio and most online media” trills Pheby, as his failing title slumps toward a miserable 30,000 copies per day.
Why do they insist on trotting out this nonsense?
Does he imagine a queue of people outside the newsagent at 6am, waiting patiently to make sure they read the news before it’s read out on BBC Radio Nottingham?
And how can it be “earlier” than online media?
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“Significant cost savings” read drop in circulation. Smiths news don’t give the customer service in the market place as is at present and are not well received by many retailers who many won’t deal with. As in other areas of the country sales will fall even faster than the average of 6% due to these significant cost savings.
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Let me tell you that this “on the streets with the milk man” rubbish was trotted out over 7 years ago and it had no lasting impact at all on the falling sales!
“Headless and chickens” yet again springs to mind.
I agree with Chaos – they really should just keep their heads down and get on with the job. I wonder if they actually feel that anybody listens to this spin?!
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I believe that the Leicester Mercury is be moved out of Derby alongside the other titles. Credit to Steve Hall with regards to his campaign to support Bomardier Transportations plight in securing local jobs. However when it comes to saving Northcliffe some money they show little regards for the production and transportation staff who will lose their jobs due to this decision.
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