One of the UK’s best-performing weeklies, Northcliffe’s Brentwood Gazette, has recruited 20 new columnists in its latest bid to boost circulation in the Essex town.
A new section called Gazette People is being launched as a development of the paper’s popular “Reader Writer” section, in which readers send in articles to be published in the Gazette.
Gazette People has launched with 20 columnists spanning a range of subjects including food, gardening, politics, history, fashion and celebrity.
Editor Nev Wilson said: “As editor of the Gazette, and leader of a team of four men, I felt we didn't represent the readers of our paper particularly well.
“Gazette People was an attempt to attract more readers to the paper by getting people of similar interests, backgrounds and ages to write for us.”
Gazette People launched yesterday with a front-page plug and an introduction to each of the new columnists on pages 4 and 5 and columns throughout the paper.
The paper is looking to grow the number of Gazette People further and since yesterday’s launch has been contacted by four new potential columnists.
Editor Nev Wilson added: “The Brentwood Gazette has long been the voice of the people, now this really is the case.”
According to the most recent ABC figures, the Gazette was the second best-performing weekly paid-for title in the UK in the first six months of 2012, with circulation up 6.4 per cent growth to 12,731.
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