UK: Independent turns 20

Posted by Rory Satran on October 4, 2006 at 11:51 AM

Britian’s Independent celebrates its 20th birthday on October 7th, commemorating the occasion with a 2-part ‘Indypendium’ book and a print advertising campaign. The book outlines 20 years of Independent reporting, one volume from 1986 to1995, the other from 1996 to 2006.

The print ad features a Filofax organizer open to October 7,1986 next to a modern agenda open to the same date of this year. The accompanying slogan is “20 years new.” Advertising has been an important aspect of the Independent’s public relations since its conception in ’86 by three former Daily Telegraph journalists. The first Independent catchphrase was the legendary “It is. Are you?”

The Independent remains Britian’s only triumphant newspaper launch of recent times.

David Greene, the paper’s marketing director, feels the Independent is as relevant as ever: “We have repeatedly confounded doom mongers who argue that, in the age of new media and dumbed-down celebrity culture, there is no place for intelligent, original, independent-minded journalism."

We hope he’s right. Happy birthday, Indy.

Source: Brand Republic