The Eastern Daily Press has launched a new edition for a part of its patch which has not had one for more than a decade.
The Archant-owned daily has traditionally circulated in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire as well as in its Norfolk heartland, but the edition which covered the Fens later merged with the Kings Lynn edition.
Now it has been relaunched as a standalone edition with John Elworthy as community editor, combining the role with that of editing sister weeklies the Wisbech Standard, Cambs Times and Ely Standard.
The paper marked its return yesterday with the front page headline ‘We’re back.’
EDP editor Nigel Pickover with the new Fens edition of the paper.
Nigel Pickover, editor-in-chief of Archant Norfolk told guests at a lunch held to celebrate the launch that it would be “a Fenland paper for Fenland people.”
“This is a big investment into Fenland – be under no illusions about that,” he said.
“We are very proud of our product, and very proud of Fenland. Some have got the impression the EDP may have left communities but we didn’t and we haven’t.
“I must emphasise, too, this is not going to be a Norwich paper foisted on Fenland – it is going to be a Fenland paper for Fenland people.”
John spoke of the work behind the scenes to get the new edition off the ground and of the realisation of a long-held ambition to see the EDP return to the Fens.
“It doesn’t mean Archant is neglecting its weekly titles – far from it. But this provides another platform for our pool of talented journalists and shows most of all the commitment that our parent company Archant has to local newspapers,” he said.
“It’s a very proud day for me but also a very proud day for local journalism.”
The launch of the Fenland edition brings the EDP’s total number of daily editions up to six.
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I think you may have your geography a bit confused…
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Not a cynical attempt to grab readers in another part of the county due to huge EDP circulation losses reported recently then?
with the EDP at just over 47,000 readers,down over 11%, and the morning Norwich evening paper recording even more losses-17% i guess they`re desperately hoping a 6th edition will help the combined figure overall for the paper.
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Archant does not have an office in Wisbech which is the biggest and most newsworthy town in Fenland. The operation is based at March which is marginal at best.
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Think a new independent newspaper has been operating in that patch for a couple of months so likely Archant are trying to beef up their operation there in an attempt to kill off the oppo.
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Sad to see that front page. I remember when the Eastern Daily Press had real authority and gravitas.
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That’s enough pictures of Mr Pickover now thanks HTFP.
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