AddThis SmartLayers

Publisher ‘reimagines daily city paper’ as eight titles relaunch

Tim Robinson 2023A regional publisher says it has “reimagined what a daily city paper should be” as it prepares to relaunch eight of its titles.

National World is redesigning the Yorkshire Evening Post, Edinburgh Evening News, Portsmouth News, Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Blackpool Gazette, Lancashire Post and Sheffield Star with a focus on “briefing readers and providing more depth, analysis and background”.

The new-look YEP will hit newsstands for the first time on 22 April, with the others to follow between May and July.

The relaunches have been overseen by National World’s Daily Press Division, led by publisher Tim Robinson and managing editor Neil Pickford, which was formed in January to handle these titles in one team across the UK.

A full printed dummy was produced earlier this month and has undergone extensive testing with readers and newspaper professionals.

Tim, pictured, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing readers a completely revitalised YEP.

“The new format reimagines what a daily city paper should be – with the emphasis on briefing readers and providing more depth, analysis and background.

“We are re-connecting with our readership using different narrative structures, a new visual language and an abundance of explainers, including lots of fantastic graphics.

“All of our readers’ favourites will still be there – such as puzzles, TV and other staples – but our news, sport and feature content will be much more relevant for modern print readers.

“The eight city titles in the daily division will, once relaunched, carry some common news and feature platforms with localised elements – readers will get a much better package of content which celebrates living and working in their city.”

The YEP relaunch is being supported by Facebook promotion, social media support and a city centre merchandising drive by National World.

Tim added: “We’ve thought long and hard about how to produce the best possible daily newspaper for our readers.

“And we’re confident the new YEP is exactly what our readers and advertisers have been waiting for.”

The new division was formed as part of a wider National World restructure in which four regional daily editors were given new roles within the company.

Euan McGrory, who was promoted to editor-in-chief of the group’s ‘City World Newspapers’ last year, left the company at the end of 2022.