UK publishing group Extra Newspapers announced Wednesday that it will be launching its first three hyper-local newspapers for the towns of Corby, Wellingburough and Kettering in Northamptonshire, according to a press release.

Extra spent 14 months researching and developing the newspapers, which are “designed to appeal to the traditional newsprint reader as well as the younger, digital savvy readership,” the release said.

Each newspaper will begin circulation in April at 10,500 copies and will cost 50 pence apiece.

Editor Judith Halliday emphasized in the release that the communities themselves will be the focus of each publication.

“Extra aims to prove that small and local can be beautiful,” she said. “We will be right there on the corner with the local community—watching, reporting and sharing all the news.”

Members of the respective communities are invited to contribute news and opinions to the paper as well, the release said.

Managing Director Stuart Parker explained in the release that, before now, Corby did not have its own local newspaper.

“The Corby Extra will give Corby what it wants most of all and that’s a voice across the community,” he said.

Competitor Johnston Press also circulates its daily, the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, within the three towns, The Guardian reported. Johnston Press is the second largest newspaper owner in the UK, as we previously reported.

The release also stated that Extra will not charge local businesses for recruitment advertising and job listings.

“With the gradual shift in recent years to high advertising rates, the regional press has made it almost impossible for small businesses to communicate effectively with their target audiences and Extra will also be providing value for money advertising rates, so that businesses can quite simply afford to advertise and communicate,” Parker said.

As previously reported, many in the news industry feel that locality is the key to attracting advertising and securing a viable news market for the future.

Sources: Extra, The Guardian