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Dailies launch online puzzles page for paying readers

Sam SheddenTwo sister dailies have launched an online puzzles page for their digital subscribers.

The Edinburgh Evening News and The Scotsman have announced the launch of the innovation, which will be available to readers who pay for one of its online subscription packages.

Two new crosswords, cryptic and quick, will be uploaded to their websites each day for subscribers.

A daily sudoku and wordwheel will also appear.

Announcing the page’s launch, EEN and The Scotsman’s engagement editor Sam Shedden, pictured, posted on Twitter: “Puzzle fans are some of our most loyal readers.

“We’ll never get more complaints than when there is a (rare) printing error on the crossword page.

“Lockdown is making it trickier to buy papers so we’re bringing the puzzle pages to our subscribers.”

Speaking to HTFP on Friday, Sam said: “We’ve only had our interactive puzzle pages live for 24 hours but already we’ve seen a terrific response from our readers, both in feedback and new subscriber acquisitions.

“Anyone who has worked on newspapers knows that the crossword readers are some of the most loyal customers you will get.

“Throughout the pandemic we’ve been constantly asking our loyal readers through our email newsletters, ‘what more can we offer you on our websites?’

“With so many people stuck at home, interactive puzzle pages were a common request. So we listened and built them.

“We’re proud to offer a varied mix of content for our digital and print subscribers.”