It's official: Handelsblatt, Germany's leading commercial economy newspaper, is set for a re-vamp. The all new tabloid format - referred to as "business-format", will be available as of 2 November, and aside from its smaller size, there will be some other notable changes too.

According to the publication's editor-in-chief, Bernd Ziesemer, the new-look newspaper will be composed of 64 pages, as opposed to its previous 32 and will be stapled down the spine. There will also be the possibility to print in colour on every page, which will be a significant improvement for the previously mostly black and white newspaper.

In terms of contents, there will be a further emphasis on the reporting of banking, business and economic news, as well as financial policy.

The new design will also feature a contents page named the "Quickreader" located at the back of the newspaper, making it reader friendly and easy to flick through to articles of interest.

In Tuesday's issue of the newspaper Ziemser gave a taster of the new layout, and announced that the website would also undergo a makeover; a notable change being the inclusion of other relevant media channels which will be updated 24 hours a day for those users with subscriptions.

Perhaps one of the most significant alterations to the website - not so much for its readers but rather those it does business with- is the new way in which advertising space will be sold; formerly by the millimetre and now by cost per thousand.

In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Ziemser once again denied accusations that the change in format was a bid to cut costs; and for the publisher Dieter von Holtzbrink the relaunch will entail a hefty investment of 350.000 euros this year alone.

Source: Kress