A TV talent show hopeful’s hometown paper has given him its backing with a front page wrap encouraging readers to elect him to stardom this weekend.
Today’s edition of the Croydon Advertiser also features a four page spread on X Factor finalist Ben Haenow which includes interviews with him, as well as his mum, brother, aunt, girlfriend, and former teacher.
The usual teasers and promos were wiped off the Advertiser’s front page to make way for the ‘Vote for Ben’ poster, pictured below.
The Local World-owned title has also run an exclusive blog from Ben every Friday since the start of the live shows and have featured weekly stories on him – from interviews with his family to the butcher who named a sausage after him.
Editor Glenn Ebrey said: “The X Factor is the biggest show on TV and Croydon is very proud of Ben’s achievements, so we wanted to give his story the full treatment ahead of the final.
“Reporter Polly Albany-Ward did an absolutely first-class job, getting all the material a local paper should – his family, his girlfriend, his former teacher, the landlord of his favourite pub – she covered every conceivable angle, topped off by an interview with Ben at the local pub where he used to gig.
“The front page looks really striking, thanks to some great design work from Alex Leys and the photography skills of Grant Melton.
“We hope plenty of people put the poster in their windows and that it encourages more votes for Ben, to push him over the finish line.”
The final shows will be broadcast tomorrow and Sunday.
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Nice music mag cover. Readers might wonder if nothing more interesting or important happened in Croydon than a puff for a wannabe.
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Ben is a lovely down to earth fella and deserves the rewards that the competition hopefully will bring him. He has a lovely family and friends backing him. Good luck Ben from all at the Croydon Advertiser.
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What they call in maths terms LCD. Lowest common denominator journalism.
Can’t wait for the heading starting “Whole of Croydon…..( well those who watch X Factor) celebratesmourns …etc etc).
But good luck to him.
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Hold the Front Page (again). The bloke who looks like Barcelona defender Pique has won.
the whole of Croydon/the country/the world/the universe is celebrating as Croydon’s own….bla bla.
It woz the Advertiser wot did it!!!?
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He won! Hold The Front Page (again?)
Croydon rejoices, naturally.whole of.
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He might be a lovely fella but it’s hardly front page news, at the end of the day it’s suppose to be a NEWS paper. Agree with East Croydon..get back to some real stories !
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Oh hang on..it’s all about shifting units and getting clicks isnt it.
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