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New title ups pagination as launch issue hits the streets

A new free newspaper has hit the streets for the first time after adding an extra eight pages for its launch edition in response to advertiser demand.

The Bridlington Echo timed its launch this week to coincide with the Driffield Show which attracted more than 25,000 people to East Yorkshire.

Initially the team behind the new paper were aiming for a 32-page tabloid – but this was increased to 40 pages due to demand from advertisers.

The new title is owned by print distribution company the BKR Group and edited by former Scarborough News sub-editor Pete Spence, who previously set up the Scarborough Review before selling it on to new owners.

The launch issue of the Bridlington Echo which hit the streets this week.

Said Pete: “We are delighted that the Bridlington Echo is out there officially for everyone to enjoy. To produce a 40-page free pick up for the launch edition is extremely encouraging and bodes well for the future.

“It feels like this kind of product has been missing from this area for some time and we are in a position to fill that void.”

The paper, which has a print run of 10,000, covers Bridlington, Flamborough, Filey and Hunmanby areas and has a staff of six.

It is available to pick up from major super markets such as Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons, plus Co-Ops and other outlets such as Bridlington Hospital, Boyes Stores and Eastfield Garden Centre.

As was the case with the Review, Pete’s new title will be up against his former employer Johnston Press, which publishes paid-for weekly the Bridlington Free Press.

11 comments

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  • July 22, 2016 at 7:59 am
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    The problem is that there’s nothing here about a “Digital First” strategy, not a whiff of Twitter or a suggestion of Facebook. You even get the feeling the staff do not gather under a screen bellowing “Hurrah, the woman weeing in the car park story has reached 4,000 hits”, which, as any decent accountant will tell you, is the way to commercial success these days. And what’s the CE paid? I bet it’s under six figures. Oh well, best of luck anyway.

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  • July 22, 2016 at 9:34 am
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    For God’s sake, Dick, don’t do irony. You know what happened last time.

    Well done all and oh, er, welcome to the future.

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  • July 22, 2016 at 11:15 am
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    Having picked up a copy of the paper maybe the increase in pagination is due to the large font size.

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  • July 22, 2016 at 1:50 pm
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    Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it has to look like a dog’s dinner.

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  • July 22, 2016 at 4:16 pm
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    The Seafood festival and Armed Forces Day stories boosted on the front took place more than a month ago.

    Also if they’d waited until August 1 (as it says on the front) maybe the back page splash would not be about a local boxer getting set for the biggest fight of his life – a fight that was cancelled a week ago.

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  • July 22, 2016 at 5:03 pm
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    I’d be lying if I said it looked great, but I’m totally behind the principle of the thing and hope it can make itself a bit more presentable “going forward” (ugh). More and more of these independent ventures seem to be springing up and with the right investment I believe they could run rings around the dying corporate-owned titles.

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  • July 25, 2016 at 7:55 am
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    i too am behind the principle of a good local indepenedent launching in an area once the domain of one of the traditional groups so good luck to all concenred,yes the front does look “ad .grabbery-ish” but its something they can improve and develop over time,presumably the idea of the paper is to provide a genuine local news medium rather than just a vehicle to grab ad revenues?,if so then yes that cover needs a complete re think.
    Good luck to you all and with sustainable ad revenues and a focus on quality local news rarther than features and advertorials i am sure you will make a success of it,plenty of free indepenedents across the uk are

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  • July 26, 2016 at 10:49 am
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    The font size for text truly has to be seen to be believed.

    It’s huge and honestly quite difficult to read as the space between lines appears off

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  • July 26, 2016 at 9:03 pm
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    Thank you for your comments. All of which have been taken on board and discussed with the team.
    The typesetter in particular!

    Desker – Im not too sure why there is so much negativity? It seems you are local so why not pop by and offer some constructive advice? We invite all constructive feedback as it is the only way we will improve! Hope to see you soon.

    Once again thanks to all that have wished the paper a success, we intend on having it around for many, many years to come. (MD)

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  • July 27, 2016 at 7:42 pm
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    A friend of mine told me about the new free paper in Bridlington called the Brid Echo, and about the comments that were been made on this site. Thought I would take a look and see for myself. Seems the Brid Echo are quite a young team, and to release a free paper that relies totally on advertising is a brave thing to do in these uncertain times. Most of the negativity seems to come from traditionalists, mostly about the typeface sizing. It does look a bit big on some pages, but from what I understand , people seem to like the fact it is easier to read that many other papers. I hope one or two people can offer up some postive advice and maybe Desker will take up the offer to call into their offices and point them in the right direction. I can only wish them good luck for the future, a slightly shaky start, but I am sure they will take on board the comments and feedback and strive to build a biger and better product.

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  • July 28, 2016 at 3:55 pm
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    Many people who still read newspapers are likely to be, ahem, older. Older people often have dodgy eyesight. A newspaper with a big type face will be easier to read for older people with dodgy eyesight.
    Nice market research. Possibly.

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