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March 3, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 2:36pm

Chronicle makes switch to tabloid

By Press Gazette

By Sarah Lagan

One of the UK’s oldest weekly newspapers has switched to a tabloid format.

The 200-year-old Chester Chronicle has undergone a redesign, led by Trinity Mirror Cheshire editor-in-chief, Eric Langton.

Producing
the paper in a tabloid, fullcolour format has been made possible by
switching printing to Trinity’s £6m colour press in Birmingham.

The
paper consists of the main news and sports section, a leisure guide and
listings pullout, a classified section as well as the motoring and
property sections, which will remain broadsheet for now.

Langton was adamant that the content of the paper had not moved downmarket.

“Chester is a very traditional, conservative area. We didn’t want to shock readers too much.”

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The
paper researched the switch to tabloid four years ago, but reader
reaction was negative. Langton said: “People’s mood and expectations
have changed. I think they understand they can get a quality paper in a
compact format.”

The relaunch includes a shift towards more local
news and sport. Two parttime reporters have been employed to cover
community news and Langton hopes to use another eight correspondents to
contribute district news.Trinity Mirror Merseyside’s design editor,
Gary Bainbridge, worked on the Chronicle’s new look. Darren Thwaites,
editorial development manager for Trinity Mirror’s Regionals division,
helped to develop new content.

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