The MEN believes it is in a strong position to withstand and indeed see off the launch of Crain's Manchester business in the coming months.
At a presentation at Scott Place on Tuesday evening, around 100 business folk, professionals, PRs and public sector executives, heard several key MEN executives extol the virtues of the paper's strategic position in Manchester and in particular its plans for development of the business section.
Like Banquo's ghost, "the publication whose name cannot be mentioned" was clearly the cause for the event although the MEN party line was that the business section is itself going from strength to strength, primarily on the back of the substantially increased city centre readership following the decision to go part free/paid.
Speakers at the presentation included editor Paul Horrocks, MD Mark Rix, business editor Chris Barry and his deputy Kevin Feddy together with Andy Crane, a Channel M presenter.
Horrocks stressed the progress the paper had made over the past couple of years and in particular the integrated news room which now encompasses the daily paper, 20 local papers, numerous web sites, Channel M as of two weeks ago and most recently Smooth and Century Radio journalists.
Horrocks
Head of corporate communications Elaine Darbyshire told How-Do after the presentation that the editorial presence of the two radio stations was tactical and natural but did not presage a wholesale move of the station's editorial teams to Scott Place. Horrocks also added that the success the paper has enjoyed with its free/paid model had stimulated interest and visits by top execs from Trinity and Northcliffe.
Commenting on the free distribution approach, Horrocks added that it was being extended out of the city centre to the Airport and to selected hospitals shortly.
Barry told the audience that in addition to the extra pagination already reported on How-Do last week, the paper had plans for enhanced environmental business coverage next year and also the introduction of business desk blogs by him and his colleagues.
In response to questions from the floor about other new initiatives, Barry revealed that there are plans afoot to create more 'networking' events including a new 'high level' dining club targeting chairmen, CEOs and FDs in the conurbation.
David Smith, head of comms at the Co-op asked if there were any plans to review the publication day (Tuesday) of the paper's weekly business supplement – in light of Crain's Monday publication day. Barry said there was no need and no discussion of the matter while Feddy chipped in with "It simply means we'll be a week ahead of them."
Banquo's ghost
Although not outwardly rattled, the arrival of Crain's with its well-funded pockets, is clearly something the MEN wishes would go away.
Crain's has only launched one city business title outside its US base. That city was Mexico City and privately-owned Crain's gave the title five years before closing it down.
It is believed that Crain's Manchester's annual running costs will be between £1.1m to £1.3m which would require circa £20,000 to £25,000 per week of advertising revenue to break even (15,000 of its 18,000 circulation is free/controlled). Not an unachievable sum but an ambitious one nevertheless. Insider magazine is believed to generate between £50,000 to £100,000 per month and the MEN business pages between £150,000 to £200,000.
Crain's believes its arrival will expand the size of the regional advertising market by offering advertisers a new 'top end' and more frequent business vehicle. It is also believes that there is considerable potential to create a new recruitment platform for senior business people.
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