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Regional daily publishes alternative royal baby front

A regional daily offered its readers an alternative to the usual royal baby front pages when it contrasted the fortunes of the new prince with a baby abandoned last week.

The Worcester News ran a a close-up of William and Kate’s little prince alongside one of baby Joseph, who was abandoned in a bag on a doorstep in Worcester last Thursday.

Its story contrasted the circumstances of the two births and was headlined “Tale of Two Babies”.

The twist on Wednesday’s front page, pictured below, came after West Mercia Police issued a fresh appeal for Joseph’s mother to come forward. 

Deputy editor John Wilson said: “We were looking for different angle on the royal baby story when West Mercia Police issued a press release about their search for Joseph’s mum which began, ‘On the day the world’s focus is on a newborn baby…’.”

He added that the title had “no hesitation in pinching their good idea”.

The front page story highlights how the life of the new prince will be one of duty and enormous privilege, while the life awaiting Joseph is less certain.

Joseph was only a few hours old when he was abandoned in a distinctive hessian shopping bag on the doorstep of a Worcester childminder, sparking an urgent appeal to find his mother.

The Worcester News also published a 16-page royal baby souvenir supplement in its Wednesday edition.

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  • July 25, 2013 at 9:23 am
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    Brilliant! Touch of reality brought back to reporting after all the royal propaganda tripe bandied about recently.

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  • July 25, 2013 at 9:41 am
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    Nice one, Johnny boy. Best take on the royal overload I’ve seen

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