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UPDATED: Major changes in the pipeline for MEN free weekly titles? | Print |  Email to a friend
Monday, 25 January 2010

How-Do is currently awaiting news from GMG Regional Media concerning the future of its weekly newspaper stable.
How-Do is currently awaiting news from GMG Regional Media concerning the future of its weekly newspaper stable.

The firm has already announced to the readers of its Salford Advertiser title that it will no longer be distributed on a free basis to homes within its catchment area. The paper will now only be available via newsagents and through its website at www.salfordadvertiser.co.uk

Image
No longer free
Last Thursday, 21 January, marked the final free delivery of the title to homes in Salford.

Readers have now also suggested to How-Do that the Macclesfield Times, the free weekly newspaper servicing the town, could be set to cease production.

However, this had not been confirmed at the time of writing.

How-Do has asked MEN about its further plans for the firm's weekly stable - including what titles are set for changes to their distribution and pay models, and whether there will be any concomitant job losses.

When quizzed on further news of the potential sale of GMG Regional Media on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the firm in London informed How-Do that there was 'nothing further to announce' beyond the prior admission of confirming 'exploratory talks'.

Update:

In a statement today (26th Jan) MEN Media said:

"Every two years or so M.E.N Media takes a detailed look at its coverage maps and restructures the distribution pattern of its titles. In order to remain in the marketplace and attractive to advertisers we alter the households that receive a home delivered free newspaper.

"We have just completed the process of informing our readers of the small changes to our distribution giving them details of how they can receive their local news going forward.

"The changes affect a small number of homes across Greater Manchester and our household penetration remains amongst the highest in the UK."
 

 

 

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  Comments (19)
RSS comments
 1 By Captain Smith, on 25-01-2010 11:18
....and the band played on.....
 2 By Tameside Eye website, on 25-01-2010 11:25
I know someone who got a letter from the Advertiser living in Hyde saying that the Tameside Advertiser will no longer be delivered. 
 
Could this be good for smaller independent newspapers like the Tameside Reporter?
 3 By White Star Line, on 25-01-2010 11:39
Capn Smith...do you mean the band on the Titanic?
 4 By Spellchecker, on 25-01-2010 12:44
Let's hope Tameside Eye's information is more reliable than their grasp of language - this from the website; 
"....Kieran has rostered up support by moving in on....." Rostered up????Rostered? Rostered????? One of the reasons why we really need local newspapers and trained journalists, perhaps.
 5 By Scott Free, on 25-01-2010 16:06
I've heard about the Macc Times and the Rochdale Express reaching the end of the free line. Apparently there was an announcement on Friday at MEN HQ about various changes. Anyone know more?
 6 By Captain Sensible, on 25-01-2010 16:19
I live in Trafford and got a note through the door that the Metro wasn't going to be delivered any more...made me wonder what's going on - are they all being stopped?
 7 By Paul Fabretti, on 25-01-2010 17:27
Likewise Captain Sensible, but to be honest when I get a copy of The S&A Messenger as well as the Metro, they could probably have saved hundreds of thousands on print by just delivering one of the damn things!
 8 By A Reader, on 26-01-2010 01:39
The Prestwich Advertiser is the same. Their last paper was last week.
 9 By Mike Giggler, on 26-01-2010 08:40
I've just had a similar note from The Guardian.
 10 By Loggedoff, on 26-01-2010 08:58
I tried to get prices for recruitment advertising from one of the local weeklies they said I had to send in the words first. 
"Surely you can tell me the per column centimetre price? No send in the words then I will tell you! Can't you send me the rates? No." 
Talk about making life difficult for the customer and putting the cart before the horse. With policies like this they deserve to go.
 11 By Paul website, on 26-01-2010 09:37
LoggedOff: rate card can be downloaded from www.menmediasales.co.uk. You won't pay rate card of course... Maybe they thought the rate card would put you off :) 
 
GMGRM really don't like PR. They avoid it at all costs.
 12 By member of staff, on 26-01-2010 09:51
This is incorrect. None of these papers are ceasing to be produced. (And there was no anouncement on Friday) Why don't How Do try checking their facts before running stories? 
 
 
[We have been chasing MEN Media since we first heard about this, but have yet to receive any comment, confirmation or denial from them - ed]
 13 By Brian, on 26-01-2010 11:54
Does anybody actually read properly these days or have a grasp of basic English? 'Member of Staff' evidently does not. There is nothing in the news item above that states production is stopping, merely deliveries of free copies. Neither was there an announcement made on Friday, merely a request for further info. If employees of publishers cant read, its no wonder the industry is goosed.
 14 By Ray T'Carrde, on 26-01-2010 14:59
"...going forward...."....experience has shown that the deployment of this voodoo management-speak phrase is invariably followed by something or someone doing anything BUT going forward - sideways, backwards or towards the exit, but never forward.....
 15 By Compo, on 26-01-2010 15:49
For a media company that is deeply involved in the 'communications' business, GMG Regional Media appears to have lost the ability to communicate effectively. 
 
All this unanswered speculation about such things as the potential sale of the MEN; about the reduction/change to free title distribution quantities is ridiculous. why can't they just be up front and straight with people. They are probably taking reasonable business decisions in the current climate so why all the mystery? 
 
The management are 'puddled' if they cannot understand how they are gradually eroding the reputation for quality and reliability this once proud and respected media group enjoyed. Increasingly it is becoming a laughing stock.
 16 By Loggedoff, on 27-01-2010 13:14
Lets face it, when GMG closed down all the local offices the writing was on the wall. 
They were 'OK' as local free sheets even with the dwindling relevance of the copy. 
With the lack of investment in good quality journalism these titles will not survive for long on the newstands. 
Our local MP should have been hung out to dry in the expenses scandal, but instead gets away with no comment and a puff piece in every issue. 
These titles have been hobbled.
 17 By Office Jockey, on 01-02-2010 12:20
@Paul Fabretti 
 
S&A Messenger and Trafford Metro are by different publishers, I can't see them working together to make sure you only get one of the papers!
 18 By Gan Eden, on 03-02-2010 08:03
Then bring bqack the Salford City Reporter as an INDEPENDENT newspaper!
 19 By Brian, on 04-02-2010 17:41
The Salford Advertiser gets desperate to grab headlines this eve 04/02/10 by publishing a story about a Pinhead originally from Swinton being in court in Guildford.  
http://www.salfordadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/ 1191491_jealous_lover_cooked_spud_on_bonfire_of_girls_clothe s 
 
Salford Advertiser cant even project a decent image of Salford even when it has been shuffled online. I cant wait for these crap papers to fold and something worthwhile be born out of the opportunity.

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