As reported by the Newspaper Society: Launched by London’s oldest local weekly newspaper - the 180 year old Lewisham, Greenwich & Bexley Mercury series - the Greenwich Town Mercury was published for the first time yesterday (Wednesday)
This launch follows the very successful seven title launch just over a year ago by The Mercury’s sister newspaper the South London Press, the publisher said in a press release.
Mercury managing director Peter Edwards said: “While these are challenging times for newspapers generally, our experience is that the more local we can be, the closer to our communities we can get, then the more our readers and advertisers like it and the more successful we are.”
Coming in the Mercury’s 180th birthday year, it is expected that more new titles will follow, the publisher said.
A celebratory lunch, for the Mercury’s 180th birthday year is planned for September at The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
It will be hosted by the Chairman of Tindle Newspapers – Sir Ray Tindle. The local MP, councillors, business people and newspaper industry leaders are being invited to celebrate the original launch of the title in 1833 and the local launches 180 years later.
Last week, Trinity Mirror launched four free weekly newspapers, The Star series, for Anfield and Walton, Maghull and Aintree, Kirkby, and Crosby and Bootle in North Liverpool.
