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Big Spark targets NHS with relaunched newspaper, hits the streets with another Independent | Print |  Email to a friend
Monday, 14 December 2009

Big Spark Publishing has today branched out into a fresh business sector, with the unveiling of issue number one of NHS News. The title has a print run of 35,000 and will be published on a bi-monthly frequency.
Big Spark Publishing has today branched out into a fresh business sector, with the unveiling of issue number one of NHS News. The title has a print run of 35,000 and will be published on a bi-monthly frequency.

NHS News, like Big Spark's only other foray into the the public sector with Police News, existed prior to the Horwich-based firm's involvement, but has not been published for some time.

Big Spark Publishing has today branched out into a fresh business sector, with the unveiling of issue number one of NHS News. The title has a print run of 35,000 and will be published on a bi-monthly frequency.
Issue one launches today
Big Spark has now stepped in as a 50% shareholder in the paper and is handling its production - including the editorial, design and selling advertising - "totally in-house."

MD Stuart Parker told How-Do that the 28-page free title has been written to appeal to NHS staff, procurement professionals and contractors, while "advertisers are companies wishing to target the NHS internally."

Distribution of the paper began in earnest today, with bulk delivery to the UK's major NHS Trusts by arrangement.

Parker noted that it had "been very well supported by advertising and the Trusts alike."

In other news the firm has continued the roll-out of its Independent model with the launch of its first newspaper in Yorkshire.

The East Riding Independent hit distribution outlets at the end of November, with issue two out in late January.

Parker said that the 10,000 print run title was a move to emulate the firm's success with the product in the North West market place.

There are now seven Independent titles in total, with issues being distributed to Bolton, Bury, Warrington, East Riding, Preston, Cheshire and Stockport.

www.bigspark.co.uk

 

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  Comments (20)
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 1 By Marie, on 14-12-2009 20:58
Well done Stuart and Bigspark! 
I've read the independents and they are a really good read. 
It's good to see that someone has the nouse to take on the big boys such as Newsquest at their own game. 
They seem to be only interested in shareholders and mammoth profits, but here is a firm which is going back to basics and seem to be interested in what journalism is really all about. Well done!
 2 By Matron, on 14-12-2009 23:54
They are f***ing joking surely? There's a very good reason why these gaps exist in the market....
 3 By Peter Pickering, on 15-12-2009 09:31
Marie - are we seeing the same free 'newspapers'? The Independents are based almost entirely on recycled press releases. This is fact not fiction. So, is this really what journalism is all about? 
 
We get the same press releases, and many are obviously reproduced word-for-word in the Independent. Real journalistic innovation eh?
 4 By yawn, on 15-12-2009 10:41
As opposed to the MENs and Echos of this world that merely put whatever spin they want on to the press releases they are spoon fed...
 5 By Loggedoff, on 15-12-2009 12:51
The NHS will not like 'NHS' in the trading style and there will be publishers with official contracts to publish obo the NHS who are likely to object. 
Expect a name change anytime soon.
 6 By Stuart Parker, on 15-12-2009 14:16
NHS News is trademarked
 7 By Marie, on 15-12-2009 14:38
Well Mr Pickering, at least Bigspark and companies like it have the balls to get off their arses and have a go! 
I think it's just a case of sour grapes with the likes of you and your ilk. 
Have you ever thought about setting up on your own Mr Pickering?
 8 By Loggedoff, on 15-12-2009 14:53
'NHS News is trademarked', yeh right pull the other one. The how do community includes people that understand trademark and branding issues so I suggest you research the term before using it. 
If you had really tried to trademark, you would have found out that you can only protect the style not the words. 
No need to get all protective of the name NHS its not yours to protect. 
Of course if there wasn't an organisation employing over 1 million called the NHS already you would have been afforded some protection under passing off laws. 
Its easier to change the name now than trundle on and get forced to later. 
Nothing personal I like your independent titles but this is wrong as you are passing yourself off as the NHS.
 9 By Stuart Parker, on 15-12-2009 15:50
I don't know why I bothered to post a comment. 
You carry on...
 10 By Tony Murray, on 15-12-2009 16:27
So, Stuart, my proposed launch of "Big Spark News" is fine with you? Good to know.
 11 By Stuart Parker, on 15-12-2009 16:55
Tony, by all means, if you put some cash behind it, some journalistic experience, work on the distribution pattern, sell some ads, design it nicely, make it 'wash it's face' - let's talk. 
Well done - wish I'd thought of that one. 
Good to know there are a lot more cleverer people out there than me.
 12 By Paul, on 15-12-2009 17:04
"There are now seven Independent titles in total, with issues being distributed to Bolton, Bury, Warrington, East Riding, Preston, Cheshire and Stockport." 
 
What's happened to the Hyndburn one you wrote about a few months ago? Has it been canned?
 13 By Loggedoff, on 15-12-2009 17:17
Stuart, don't be so pesmistic, of course there is a point to replying, just best to tell the truth when you do otherwise we will all get the wrong impression of you. 
There's a whole website dedicated to protecting the NHS identity. Why not contact them and ask if its OK to use the term NHS, I think they may have already trademarked it. Or you could wait for them to contact you....  
 
http://www.nhsidentity.nhs.uk/ 
 
Like I said, best to volunteer to change before you are forced.
 14 By NHS Wallah, on 15-12-2009 17:40
Having been around the NHS for a while, I've seen these publications come and go, almost invariably the latter. The pitfalls are numerous as any NHS comms person will tell you, but the obvious question not asked is: why does anyone think the NHS needs yet another publication? 
 
As for the branding, Loggedoff gives good advice.
 15 By Stuart Parker, on 15-12-2009 17:42
Loggedoff - the title was first published in 1948. This is not a new launch, simply an opportunity to re-hash. We did not JV this product without asking questions. Thanks for your interest and your points.
 16 By Tony Murray, on 15-12-2009 19:42
My comment was obviously, uncharacteristically, flippant. I think the issues that should have been covered in your initial announcement (or if not, asked by the journo covering the story) are - what is your relationship with the NHS? Do you have any endorsement/relationship with the managment? Are they co-operating on circulation? Is it to named individuals or just site drops? I worked on an a Hospital title 22 years ago that got banned from circulating to all NHS sites (not because of me, I may add), how will you prevent this? What's the revenue stream? Recruitment? Specifiers? Management? You've really let yourself open to this shit-stream by not clearly defining what you're doing or your relationship with with your target sectors.
 17 By Peter Pickering, on 15-12-2009 19:43
Marie - we have been running our own publishing business for quite a few years - profitably. What about you?
 18 By Marie, on 15-12-2009 20:46
Of course you have Peter.
 19 By Exmen, on 16-12-2009 12:53
Keep up the entertainment folks! Quality pre-Christmas stuff. Much better than Eastenders.
 20 By Matthew, on 18-12-2009 11:17
With all their publication launches / re-launches and the like this year - most of which have 'washed their faces' from the outset according to their MD (I presume he means they have at least broken even) then Big Spark must now be one of the most financially successful publishing companies in Britain - calculated on a profit to turnover basis.

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