A new edition of a weekly free newspaper containing up to 14 change pages has been launched by a regional publisher.
Archant has announced the launch of the Wanstead & Woodford Recorder, which is being produced by the team behind the Ilford Recorder.
The paper is edited by Chris Carter, while Ralph Blackburn serves as chief reporter.
The launch of the Wanstead and Woodford edition, the first issue of which is pictured below, coincides with an increase in distribution for the Ilford Recorder.
Said Chris: “As editor of the Ilford Recorder for the past 21 years – during which we have always spoken for the whole borough – I have a strong affinity with the area.
“I have made it my mission to champion the causes of the people of the borough and, when necessary, speak up for the community.
“Redbridge is a melting pot of different faiths and races, who have always lived in harmony and I have determined that the Recorder should reflect that.
“Our news diet will be fair and balanced and will celebrate the positive aspects of the areas we serve, while highlighting the issues which matter to residents. Our readers finally have a credible voice and we hope a newspaper of which they can be proud.”
The new edition will also contain a TV and lifestyle section, while sports coverage will be focused on West Ham United and local clubs.
The new edition is being distributed at retail outlets, as well as major London Underground stations.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
It just shows how weak the NQ London papers hav e become. Once upon a time the Ilford Recorder wouild never have dared poach that territory, although they were always nibbling at it. I can remember the competition between us on the old Express & Independent, later taken over by the Waltham Forest Guardian, and the Redbridge (Ilford) Recorder, to be the first to find out what next year’s rates (council tax as was, to you youngsters) were going to be. It was a badge of pride to get them leaked before the rate setting meeting – and before the opposition. In those days both papers were proud paid-for weeklies with histories. Now? Distributed freesheets and NQ have clearly given up on the patch. How terribly, terribly sad.
Report this comment
The future is now….”meet me in the local Costa Coffee every Friday morning”, I kid you not. Its sadly the way of journalism these days, along with the supplied press releases.
This paper is not really new. The free Woodford Recorder has been out for a few years. It was available in the same free bins in Wanstead and Woodford as now. All that has changed is the name and masthead. Sorry but that is 100% true, despite the Archant spin.
Some pages are unique to this patch. But most is still from the paid-for Ilford Recorder, which is the title given the top of every page in this edition of the Recorder.
“Gladimoutofit” (above), is right. Newsquest have given up with its Guardian. Not even sure if they are still in Epping, but with the closure I believe of Watford, eveything is now in High Wycombe or somewhere? (Stand to be corrected).
The Guardian has two editions to cover the north and south part of the Central Line Essex areas. But it could all be in one, with just a few pages different in both editions.
Estate Agents seem to prefer the Guardian though, with no adverts at all in the “new” W&W Recorder. I assume Archant don’t want to hurt their own Property Magazine they produce in this area to go against the Guardian.
Overall, the Guardian has been abysmal for some time, with too many advertorials and generic articles and features. The Recorder seems better, but their othr neighbouring East London titles lack “real news” for fillers (has anyone actually felt the thickness of the once great East London Advertiser lately?!) So Archant are certainly not the saviours of the media.
Report this comment
Matthew is corect,this isn’t new, it’s the old paper given new coat of paint and yes property agent revenues are crucial to Archant so they’ll do anything to avoid losing them.
Report this comment