An independent community news website founded by a regional digital chief has spawned a weekly print edition in a new reverse-publishing venture.
The first issue of Blog Preston came out last week, with 20,000 copies being distributed free to homes across the Lancashire city.
Blog Preston was launched as an online-only venture in 2009 by Ed Walker, current head of digital publishing for Trinity Mirror Regionals.
There is no involvement from TM in the project, which is a community interest company run by Ed in collaboration with local charity Creative Works Preston.
Luke Beardsworth, the Preston-born social media editor of the Birmingham Mail, is also a director and co-editor of the company, while several other contributors have regional press links.
The city is also currently served by regional daily the Lancashire Evening Post, which is owned by Johnston Press.
An announcement posted on the Blog Preston website reads: “This week marks a special moment for Blog Preston as we unveil a partnership we’ve been working on – to put what we do into print.
“It’s a long way since we began on a cold January afternoon one Sunday in 2009, as we now reach 30,000 people in Preston every week through our website and app.
“But we wanted to take a next step and a collaboration with local charity Creativity Works Preston has allowed us to give you a free weekly newspaper delivered to 20,000 homes in the city and available from key points in the city centre.
“It’s baby steps to begin with but we hope you’ll enjoy having a flick through a week in Preston and by partnering with Creativity Works we’re also able to give young people the chance to get excited and learn about media production.”
The print edition of Blog Preston has been produced with the help of experienced newspaper designers Murray Walker and Tristan Freeman.
The announcement continues: “The advertising in the paper helps ensure it is free, we can reinvest in community reporting and helps support a Preston charity as well in Creativity Works Preston.
“Thank you to everyone for your support over the years, and we’ll continue striving to bring you the latest and best Preston news.”
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Good luck to all concerned in this venture, the age of the traditional print newspaper both dailies and weeklies are rapidly coming to an end so new initiatives which are market led deserve support and to succeed
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I know some of the people involved in this launch, well done to them for their initiative. I hope they grab a share of the advertising pie.
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I wish this venture every success. But I’m as confused as Confused sometimes is. A regional digital chief launching a PRINT project? People keep telling me print is dead. Especially the digital people.
I may have to go and find a darkened room and lie down in it.
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