Five titles moved from a daily format to weekly publication; nine moved from broadsheet to compact format; three free weekly newspapers relaunched as paid-for titles, and six others relaunched with the new designs.
Initial feedback from audiences has been overwhelmingly positive with hundreds of e-mails, phone calls, website comments and tweets pouring in to the offices, says Johnston Press.
The designs have been created by leading international design agency Cases i Associates, based in Barcelona.
The relaunch is integral to Johnston Press’ new strategy and is backed by improvements to accompanying websites and the launch of five more iPad news apps for the new weekly Peterborough Telegraph, Scarborough News, Northamptonshire Telegraph, Halifax Courier and Northampton Chronicle & Echo. They are all available to download from the App Store.
Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield said: “This is a hugely exciting start in our journey to revitalise the company. Relaunching our paid-for titles and at the same time investing in our digital services will create a sustainable business performing a unique function in the economy and society and delivering positive returns for our shareholders.
“The early success of this first phase gives us every confidence as we move towards further relaunches within our print portfolio.”
The full list of titles in the first phase is as follows:
Daily to weekly publications
Peterborough Telegraph
Northamptonshire Telegraph
Northampton Chronicle & Echo
Scarborough News
Halifax Courier
Broadsheet to compact
Northumberland Gazette
Harrogate Advertiser
Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald
Knaresborough Post
Wetherby News
Ripon Gazette & Boroughbridge Herald
West Sussex County Times
Bucks Herald
Free to paid-for
Washington Star
Peterlee Star
Seaham &Houghton Star
Others
Mansfield Chad
Ashfield Chad
Derbyshire Times
Eastwood Advertiser
Ilkeston Advertiser
Belper News
Ripley & Heanor News
