A former daily editor’s new online venture has finally gone live after more than eight months of planning.

HTFP first reported on former Journal editor Brian Aitken’s plans for a new quality digital title on his old North East stamping ground in June last year.

Now The QT has finally hit the computer screens with a mix of news and long reads, focusing mainly on regional politics, business and culture.

Its first lead story was an exclusive interview with the new chief constable of Northumbria Police on her plans to reshape the force.

In a newsletter to subscribers, Brian said: “It’s with a tremendous amount of pleasure, pride and excitement that I bring you the news that the first edition of The QT is available now.

“We promised that quality storytellers would tell you quality stories, worth paying for. And we have delivered.

“But this week, for one week only, The QT is open to all. Everyone who visits theqt.online will be able to see that quality for themselves.”

From next week – the website will update every Wedneday at noon – readers will be required to pay a subscription of £7.99 a month.

Brian heads a core team of five staffers which also includes former Journal colleague Sam Wonfor while freelance contributors to the project include former Northern Echo editor Peter Barron and former Newcastle Chronicle editor Paul Robertson.

He has pledged that the title will be an “independent campaigning voice” for the North East region which will be entirely funded from reader subscriptions – with “no pop-ups or clickbait.”

Although from next week most content will be paywalled, the What’s On listings in the Culture section will remain free to access.