Members of the Ground Force team have revisited a memorial garden for murdered TV presenter Jill Dando – who began her career at the Weston & Somerset Mercury. The paper’s managing editor, Judi Kisiel, joined TV gardeners Tommy Walsh and
Weston & Somerset Mercury
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Archant posts record profits
Publisher Archant, formerly Ecng, has announced record profits of £26.1m. The Norwich-based company is best known for publishing newspapers and magazines and is also involved in contract print and electronic publishing. The operating profit for 2001 of £26.1m is up
From Ecng to Archant
Eastern Counties Newspaper Group has officially changed its name to Archant. Thousands of staff all over England and Scotland have begun working under the new name. In February more than 95 per cent of voting Ecng shareholders backed the bid
Media group will change its name
Shareholders at Ecng have backed the board’s bid to change the name of the company to Archant. Ecng’s daily titles are the East Anglian Daily Times, Eastern Daily Press, Evening News (Norwich) and the Evening Star (Ipswich). Among the 60-plus
News in brief
A loan company that was exposed by the Manchester Evening News – for targeting the poor and then keeping them hanging on £1-a-minute premium phone calls – has been fined £1,000 by phone watchdogs.More than 45 people complained to the
Corporate makeover on the cards for Ecng
Regional media group Ecng could be about to get a new makeover – if shareholders approve a proposed change of name to Archant. The idea is to reflect the groups geographical spread and diversity – both in the newspaper business
25-page web section on Jill's Garden
A newspaper website has set up a special section to mark the creation of a garden in memory of the murdered BBC TV presenter Jill Dando. She started her career at the Weston & Somerset Mercury, where her brother Nigel,
First female journalist to work on Weston Mercury dies
The mother of Jeffrey Archer, who died as his trial neared a close this week, was the first female journalist to work on the Weston & Somerset Mercury. In May 1949 Lola Archer took up her post at the Mercury
Mercury fight helps save acclaimed youth café from closure
The Weston & Somerset Mercury has helped to save a nationally acclaimed youth café from closure. Barcode, an under 18s alcohol-free café, has been applauded by the Home Office and is regularly visited by people from around the country hoping
Paper pays for Africans' education
The Weston and Somerset Mercury is helping two African children by paying for their education. The paper is sponsoring the children to help a local charity called The Luhimba Project. The charity was designed to help people from the small
Mercury asks: Do you know where your child is?
An initiative aiming to combat an increasing problem of bored youngsters who turn to petty crime has been launched by the Weston & Somerset Mercury. Through its Safety In Numbers campaign, the paper is highlighting the problems caused by groups
Currency means cash for Mercury
The Weston & Somerset Mercury is set to cash in – literally – on the demise of European currencies by asking people to donate their unwanted cash to help south-west charity Weston Hospicecare. Posters have been displayed throughout Weston-super-Mare town
Pride – and joy – in Weston
A local council has adopted a newspaper campaign to promote pride in a seaside town and improve the resort. North Somerset Council has come on board to promote the Weston & Somerset Mercury’s Pride in Our Town campaign. The council
Weston Mercury to keep tourism on track
The Weston & Somerset Mercury is lending a hand to ensure Weston-super-Mare’s declining tourist industry has blue skies ahead. North Somerset Council has launched the Blue Skies initiative, aimed at putting new life into its tourist industry, and the Mercury
Ad revenues help Archant to increased profit
Publisher Archant has announced increased profits for the year thanks mainly to the performance of advertising sales in the regional press. And there are initiatives in hand to boost income and improve efficiency. Operating profit for 2002 reached £27.7m, up
Archant poised to acquire media assets
Archant is poised to “acquire and expand” after winning permission from its shareholders to increase its borrowing capacity to £270m. The firm wants to double its size in the next seven years and believes it is at the right stage