“We’ve gone compact,” hails a release emailed to us over the weekend by Stuff’s in-house Ponsonby-based PR division communications manager Lucy Hempseed.
The release is fronted by Stuff ceo Sinead Boucher. Here’s what Boucher says, in full …
“From today, our nine daily metropolitan and regional papers (The Dominion Post, The Press, Manawatū Standard, Taranaki Daily News, Waikato Times, Nelson Mail, Marlborough Express, The Timaru Herald and The Southland Times) have switched to a smaller compact size that’s big on news and views.
“The decision to move the dailies to compact is a reader-led initiative, but also an opportunity to reinvigorate Stuff’s newspapers.
“Newsprint has been at the heart of our business for 150 years or more. Investing in this change has given us the opportunity to rethink the way we gather and present local and national news and how we can make advertising more appealing to customers and advertisers.
“I am proud of the thought and design evident in today’s first off-the-press compact editions – they look better, they’re easier to read, and they’re here to stay.
“Advertising sizes have also changed to a more simplified format.”
“The newspaper subscriber has been at the centre of every change – with the project team focusing on what content appeals to readers and building on that in a more convenient, easier to read format delivering what readers want more of, as well as creating a better visual experience.
“Advertising sizes have also changed to a more simplified format.
“The content will continue to reflect the regional and metropolitan audience with a focus on local, national and international news and more in depth reporting on issues that affect readers.
“There has been a refresh of cartoonists and columnists, the sharemarket table has been expanded and a new obituaries page included. Puzzles, racing, sport, television, weather and business remain, some with a spruce up.
“We have worked hard to make the daily newspaper experience better and richer. We know that these papers are well loved and an important part of communities across New Zealand, and we want that to continue,” Boucher said.
TABLOID TALES
Saturday editions and The Sunday Star-Times will remain in their broadsheet size.
The Herald, of course, blazed the group’s trail toward compact size by turning tabloid in 2012. (The word ‘tabloid’ itself has moved on – completely superseded in the Stuff release by the much more respectable ‘compact’).
About Stuff
Stuff is a collection of print and online products and services that connect Kiwi communities to the stuff that matters, the stuff they love and each other. With storytelling at the heart of Stuff, the company is leveraging its audience scale to diversify into new categories and revenue streams, ensuring it can continue to deliver quality local journalism that Kiwis look for every day. Click here to see a full portfolio of our brands including Stuff, Neighbourly, Done Health Insurance, energyclubnz, Stuff Fibre and Stuff Pix: advertise.stuff.co.nz/portfolio
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