Ireland: Local newspaper switches to the freesheet model

Posted by Katherine Thompson on September 1, 2008 at 9:43 AM

A local newspaper in Ireland is taking up the freesheet model. From next Friday The Offaly Independent in Tullamore will no longer be available at newsagents and will instead 15,000 copies will be distributed free of charge throughout homes and supermarkets in Offaly.

This is the latest in a series of changes at the Celtic Media title, The Offaly Independent changed its publication day from Wednesdays to Fridays, and it previously began distributing free copies to the newer areas of the county in an effort to boost circulation figures.

The launch of the new full-colour 48-page Offaly Independent will include a revamp of the paper's website.

The move is due to a restructuring within the company and will result in the loss of two full-time jobs following internal deployments elsewhere.

Celtic Media also publishes the Westmeath Independent, the Westmeath Examiner, the Meath Chronicle in Navan and the Anglo Celt in Cavan. It employs a total of 200 people.

Source: Greenslade in the Guardian.co.uk and Sunday Tribune