A front page story about the UK’s most diverse street went national and gave a sales boost to a regional daily.
The Leicester Mercury saw sales increase by around 2,000 copies week-on-week after running its story about shops on the city’s Narborough Road being owned by people from at least 22 different nations.
The exclusive four-page special by award-winning feature writer Lee Marlow was illustrated by a front page featuring the flags of the countries represented, pictured below, which was designed by the Mercury’s chief sub-editor Matthew Sulley.
The story, printed in last Wednesday’s edition, was subsequently picked up by all the nationals, television and radio – including Chris Evans on Radio 2’s breakfast show.
The newspaper ran a full page two days later featuring their letters, social media comments and a look at how Fleet Street picked up on our exclusive.
Wednesday’s sales increase was also boosted by a back page report of a 2-0 victory over Liverpool by Leicester City FC, currently top of the Premier League, which featured a wonder goal from England forward Jamie Vardy.
Mercury editor Kevin Booth said: “Everyone knows that Leicester is an incredibly diverse city, but this really showed it as the world in microcosm.
“The response to our coverage has been fantastic, and it’s notable that our story has since been picked up by all the nationals, TV and radio.
“Coupled with our reports of Leicester City’s great win over Liverpool and Jamie Vardy’s wonder goal, the edition was massively popular on the newsstands.
“Early indications are that sales were up by almost 2,000 copies week-on-week.”
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Good news piece and showing that hyper local news coupled in with local news of interest to a national audience delivered ( LCFC) straight from the source will sell papers, good luck to them in sustaining the good copy sales that have resulted.
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Yet more guff on migrant ‘diversity’ automatically being a fantastic thing. Speak to native Brits (of all colours) about the reality and it is a different story. Unsustainable immigration is the gravest threat to this country’s cohesion since the Nazis. Of course, everyone is too terrified of being labled ‘racist’ to admit it, especially gutless local newspapers.
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The newspaper tan a full page did it ?
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Seems a decent piece to me. Walking through the city on Saturday the same thought struck me, though I don’t buy the paper (sorry).
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I think it’s an encouraging story. Better many different nationalities rubbing along together in the same street, than throwing petrol bombs at each other.
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