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Former MEN Weekly staff launch Rochdale newspaper | Print |  Email to a friend
Thursday, 14 January 2010

Richard Catlow, the ex-editorial director of MEN’s Weekly Newspapers is launching a new paper for Rochdale.

Former MEN Weekly staff launch Rochdale newspaper
Catlow
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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  Comments (15)
RSS comments
 1 By Saatchi, on 14-01-2010 14:22
That's a business story you probably won't see reported in the Manchester Evening News.
 2 By Bernadette, on 14-01-2010 16:34
Good luck to them. Generating sufficent revenue to pay five salaries - in addition to production/distribution costs - will not be easy in the current climate. Well done for actually having a go.
 3 By Dabber Dabber Do, on 14-01-2010 19:15
Here's hoping Mervyn keeps up the fine tradition of proper community reporting he's know for in Accy and doesn't adopt Big Sparks "We Print Press Releases and Call it Good News" policy
 4 By Sam Beckwith website, on 15-01-2010 10:51
Is it hopelessly naive of me to think that a Rochdale newspaper should be based in Rochdale?
 5 By Compo, on 15-01-2010 12:33
It is naive of anyone to think this is going to be editorially led. An operation of this type, and of this relatively small scale, depends on its ability to keep costs down to an absolute minimum. It will not sustain full-time journalists.
 6 By Local Will Win the Day!, on 15-01-2010 12:50
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
 7 By observer, on 18-01-2010 11:35
A brave decision. Best wishes for your success. Let's hope you stay by the riverside long enough.
 8 By Dan Depan, on 19-01-2010 16:04
Impressive line-up. Monthly newspapers are an unknown quantity - be interested to see how such experienced print veterans attack the challenge. 
Best of luck
 9 By Mr Gate, on 19-01-2010 18:06
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?
 10 By mr gate, on 21-01-2010 09:55
Looks like we are not going to get an answer to my questions from Richard,Mervyn or Mandy.
 11 By Compo, on 21-01-2010 11:11
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'.
 12 By Mr Gate, on 21-01-2010 15:09
Compo ,thank you for your pearls of wisdom but my questions were directed at Richard,Mervyn and Mandy.
 13 By Compo, on 21-01-2010 15:49
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!
 14 By Compo, on 21-01-2010 15:51
Mr Gate - better still, why don't you pick up the phone and give them a call if you are losing sleep over this.
 15 By Mr Gate, on 21-01-2010 18:58
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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