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New newspaper to compete with established local title as publisher expands

Paul GibsonA new newspaper is set to launch in competition with an established local title after an independent publisher’s expansion.

The Bexhill News will be available in the Sussex seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea from July after journalist Paul Gibson decided to expand his local news business Regional Media Group Ltd.

The News will compete on the readership front with JPIMedia’s Bexhill Observer and companion SussexWorld website, which has a Bexhill & Battle news channel.

HTFP reported in September last year how Paul had launched a print edition of the Hailsham News, initially set up as an online-only title back in 2017, with a circulation of 7,000.

Since then, the Hailsham title’s print run has been expanded to 10,000 and Paul has started contracting two freelance staff to help with its operation – editor Chris Dabbs and designer Dean Cook.

Paul, who previously worked for titles including the Eastbourne Herald, will now focus on the launch of the new Bexhill title as its editor prior to its launch as a monthly paper in July.

Paul, pictured, said: “We are really excited about our expansion further into East Sussex following the overwhelming success of Hailsham News.

“Residents in Bexhill are excited to have real local news return to the town and we cannot wait to start distributing the free newspaper in the town in just a few months’ time.”

The Bexhill News will begin life with a circulation of 10,000, the same as its sister title currently has.

The Bexhill Observeer had a circulation of 8,000 in 2010 but has not been audited since after a number of JPIMedia’s Sussex weeklies were withdrawn from ABC.