The Sunday People is moving ahead with plans to create a seven-day digital product before a rebrand of the print title.
According to a report in The Guardian, the digital relaunch, which could still see the launch of a stand-alone site, has taken priority over the overhaul of the paper. The Guardian was told that a plan to launch the site as a “Buzzfeed for adults” was pitched to the board of Trinity Mirror last week.
The revamp of the Sunday People has been in the pipeline since Trinity Mirror hired former Sunday Express editor Sue Douglas in June.
Douglas was hired to lead Trinity Mirror’s new Sunday Brands subsidiary. The Group of papers includes the People and Trinity Mirror’s major Sunday regionals, but not the Sunday Mirror. However, Douglas’ primary focus has been on reinvigorating the People.
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That focus now looks to have shifted to see her lead exclusively on the launch of the paper’s new digital offering. People editor James Scott was originally reporting in to Douglas, but is now charged with responsibility for the print product, independent of Douglas, according to The Guardian.
A revamped print edition is still said to be on the agenda, and there is still potential for a complete rebrand under a new name. Over the summer, Press Gazette understands that a number of mock-ups of People front pages were produced, trialling new names.
Trinity Mirror stablemate the Sunday Mirror last weekend unveiled its redesign, a week after red-top rival The Sun “refreshed” its Sunday title.
A Trinity Mirror spokesman said: "The team are busy working on exciting plans for the Sunday People across both print and digital platforms."
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