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Former MEN Weekly staff launch Rochdale newspaper
Richard Catlow, the ex-editorial director of MEN’s Weekly Newspapers is launching a new paper for Rochdale.
He’s teamed up with 4 other former colleagues, who were also made redundant from the publisher, they are: Mervyn Kay and Mandy Leigh, who were editors at the Accrington Observer and Stockport Express and Times; Kath Fielding, newspaper sales manager; and advertising salesman, Brent Armistead.
The group has formed PIP Media, and they’ll be producing the Rochdale & Heywood Independent with Big Spark Publishing.
The monthly title will be a pick-up newspaper, distributed by Self Select distribution, with stands in supermarkets and other outlets.
PIP Media’s offices are in Rossendale where designer Helen Goodwin and journalist Helen Catlow will be based.
Last year MEN Media made 150 people redundant, as it moved all its local editorial offices to its central Manchester headquarters.
Catlow himself was made redundant in October 2008, following a restructure of the publisher’s senior management team.
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Compo ,you really are expending an awful lot of energy on this as evidenced by your afterthought.
I asked a simple question which I think visitors to this site might be interested in getting an answer to.Others may be interested in their approach.
Of course I could 'phone them.But that is not the point,forums such as these should encourage the debate you so obviously want to stifle.
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Mr Gate - better still, why don't you pick up the phone and give them a call if you are losing sleep over this.
Mr Gate - they will obviously reply to you if they feel a reply is merited. Personally, I'd let you continue to stew in your own juices whilst I got on with the important work involved in starting a new venture.
You obviously have some axe to grind and I'm pretty sure this will figure very low in their list of current priorities. Get a life!
Compo ,thank you for your pearls of wisdom but my questions were directed at Richard,Mervyn and Mandy.
Mr Gate - your question does not warrant an answer. Nobody in their right mind is going to load a new small business with totally unnecessary overheads.
In this day and age you don't need branch offices in every town. Good contacts - the ability to seek out a story and good writing skills are more than enough.
This is a new monthly local free newspaper that will depend totally on advertising revenue to survive - forget your former 'perfect world'.
Looks like we are not going to get an answer to my questions from Richard,Mervyn or Mandy.
Would Richard,Mervyn and Mady explain how they intend to cover Rochdale and Heywood without ,apparently, having branch offices in those towns.Would they tell us how they will cover theses patches?
Impressive line-up. Monthly newspapers are an unknown quantity - be interested to see how such experienced print veterans attack the challenge.
Best of luck
A brave decision. Best wishes for your success. Let's hope you stay by the riverside long enough.
There could not be a better team put together. Good luck to you all. Hopefully you will give the people of these areas newspapers that once again reflect differering and distincitve community values