An historic newspaper brand revived last year before being suspended from publication in the spring looks set to close for good after its publisher admitted there were “no imminent plans” to bring it back.
Newsquest suspended publication of the Darlington Despatch in the spring, eight months after it was launched as a weekly publication.
The Despatch’s name was taken from the daily Northern Despatch, which last published in the 1980s.
Following a review of its future over the summer, the company has now decided not to resume publication.
A Newsquest spokesman said: “The Darlington Despatch was first suspended in the 1980s and revived last year.
“Unfortunately due to the challenging trading environment, we suspended it again in the spring and there are no imminent plans to revive it currently.”
The Despatch was mainly distributed free but also available on sale at 30p from retailers.
At the time of its launch, the Echo said the Despatch would be a “very community-focused” and “bright, modern-looking” paper.
As well as Darlington, the paper covered a number of other towns including Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Willington.
The Despatch was one of a number of new titles launched by Newsquest over the past year, including the Oldham Times, Warrington Post, Blackburn Post and Burnley Star.
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At the time of its relaunch they said “Readers and advertisers tell us that they still value a good quality paper and that is why we have launched the Despatch.”
So what’s changed?
Presumably it was no longer seen as a good quality paper?
I can’t help think this was either an I’ll concieved decision without proper consideration of the commercial aspect as it was launched then reviewed months later, or they’re no longer able to provide a ‘ good quality news ‘ service which doesn’t bode well for other titles in their print portfolio
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