A twice-weekly newspaper has returned to a city centre office location after 23 years in what it is calling a “determined” bid to bring it closer to its readers.
The Exeter Express & Echo has left its Heron Road home at Sowton on the outskirts of the city, for a more central base overlooking Gandy Street and Queen Street, pictured below.
The weekend move comes just over a month since the former daily, which switched to a weekly frequency in 2011, began printing two editions a week.
It is only the newspaper’s third move in the last century, having previously had offices on High Street and Sidwell Street.
The move was announced to readers in a story on the Echo’s website published yesterday.
It reads: “Overlooking both Gandy Street and Queen Street – with an open door from Little Queen Street – the move to Queen’s House means readers and advertisers have easier-than-ever access to their favourite paper.
“Neatly coinciding with the successful launch of the new Monday edition, the move also highlights the Echo’s efforts to stay even closer to its readers at a time when people are changing the way they consume news.
“As a key part of the city’s success and its positive future, the Echo is as determined as ever to be where it is needed for those who matter the most – its readers.”
The new offices lie close to the former High Street headquarters, now a Tesco, which were badly damaged during the Blitz on 4 MAy 1942.
The morning after the raid, the then editor held a 6am conference outside the office, and production continued via a new printing press set up on tennis courts at Powderham Castle.
After the war the newspaper moved to purpose-built offices on the corner of Sidwell Street and Cheeke Street before heading off to a new build at Sowton in 1992.
The Express & Echo is the second Local World title to abandon an out-of-town building for a more central location in recent months, following the Derby Telegraph’s return to a city centre office in November after 34 years at Meadow Road industrial estate.
Plymouth dailies the Western Morning News and The Herald also moved to city centre offices in June 2013 after 20 years at the so-called ‘Big Glass Ship’ in Derriford.
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Sounds sensible. Folk knowing where you are and, more importantly, feeling that they, as readers or advertisers, are welcome, gives emphasis to the local feel of a title. Even in a digital world, to know where that content is (mostly) coming from reinforces ‘locality’. Hope the move reaps rewards.
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Since some naive people say HTFP writers just moan, here’s one for you. No sarcasm intended, this is a brilliant idea. Some good news.
As newspaper firms seems to follow each other like sheep, perhaps it will catch on.
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Any news on sales for the Monday edition?
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Big mistake moving local newspapers away from the people, glad this is being rectified in Exeter, hope others follow suit
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Perhaps JP will move my local of many years ago the Sussex Express back into Lewes. I hear its based about ten miles away near Burgess Hill.
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” … means readers and advertisers have easier-than-ever access to their favourite paper.”
Nowt makes me chuckle more than such self-delusional self-aggrandisement.
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Makes a bit of a change from those grim stories of newspapers closing down and their offices being demolished.
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Great to see company investing in media premises. New offices look great and I’m sure after 20 years on trading estates the staff will love being in the beautiful city of Exeter. Great way to do business …. Cant see anything wrong in that !
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Lordy, our city seems to be the centre of regional media attention all of a sudden. Can’t think why!!
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Isca. We are desperate for positive news. This is it!
Give it a week and JP, Newsquest or TM will chuck a bucket of cold water over us.
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And reporters & photographers can get to many of the jobs quickly..
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I was a journalist on the E&E during its Sidwell Street days in the 1960s. Great location in what was then the Queens Hotel, my dad’s favourite watering hole.
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