Former editor takes on Birmingham Post with web launch

Reeves has held a number of senior positions in regional newspapers, including working as deputy editor of the News and Star in Carlisle and editorial director of Trinity Mirror Southern.

Reeves is joined at TheBusinessDesk by Duncan Tift, a business journalist with 20 years experience. It is expected that the staff will soon increase to ten journalists, who will work across TBD's three editions: one in Leeds, one in Liverpool, and the newly launched one in West Midlands.

Reeves told the Press Gazette that he is betting on local involvement to help the regional daily take off. "I'm getting in local investment so that the local business community has a real stake in what we are trying to build."

Recently, content catered to a specific area has become more popular, as newspapers make efforts to provide more valuable content that users cannot get anywhere else to combat the ubiquity of free online news.

Reeves's new publication is also betting on a streamlined production to cut costs. TheBusinessDesk is "small and lean," Reeves explained, adding that "all we need is three brains and three laptops - as long as those brains are good, solid journalists."

Their business model, based on keeping costs low by slashing printing presses and pension liabilities - costs that most established media companies cannot suppress easily - could help them go into the market place with a very compelling commercial proposition for advertisers. Their local audience could bring them increased advertising revenue and profits, as they keep costs low.