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MEN late-week editions see readership soar

A leading regional daily is hailing a 20pc boost in readership from its Thursday and Friday editions.

The Manchester Evening News says independent research shows readership of its late-week editions up to 422,359 from a previous average of 351,983.

Bosses at the Trinity Mirror-owned title say the figures show the continued success of its groundbreaking “part-paid, part-free” model, first launched by the title in 2006.

The initiative, which sees free copies of the title being given away in the city centre on Thursdays and Fridays, has since been copied by numerous regional and local titles.

Currently, 90,729 copies of the MEN are given away free on Thursday and Friday, while 64,551 copies are paid for.

The research was carried out by GfK NOP and published by the regional press auditing committee, JICREG.

MEN Media managing director David Sharrock said: “We’re delighted that our part-paid, part-free model continues to reap rewards.

“To be able to report this positive swing in one of the most challenging periods in the history of the regional press is great news for us and a sign that we must be giving readers and advertisers exactly what they want.”

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  • June 1, 2011 at 9:30 am
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    Don’t understand this “delighted” trebles-all-round stuff.

    If you give out 150,000 free copies, is it really so astonishing that some of them might get read?

    How’s the paid-for figure for the giveaway days looking?

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