The Eastbourne Gazette has announced plans for a back-to-the-future print relaunch in broadsheet format.
Over the last decade, most of the UK’s surviving broadsheet local newspapers have relaunched in tabloid format.
This follows a trend started by national titles The Independent and The Times.
But this week the Wall Street Journal Europe switched to broadsheet format.
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And the Johnston Press-owned Gazette has announced it is going the same way.
The Gazette is one of two paid-for weekly newspapers published by Johnston in the Sussex seaside town, and is published on a Tuesday. The Eastbourne Herald is published on a Friday.
Neither title are audited by ABC any longer. In 2011 the Gazette had a paid-for circulation of just under 21,000 and the Herald sold just over 8,000 copies a week.
Gary Shipton is editor of Johnston Press Sussex titles including the Herald, the Gazette, the Hastings Observer, Bexhill Observer, Chichester Observer and Mid Sussex Times.
He said in a letter in this week’s paper: "We are relaunching the Gazette as a premier, quality weekly broadsheet title – packed with ever more news, features and information.
“This new look Gazette will launch very soon.
“This decision was reached after listening to what you the reader said you wanted.
“I truly believe that these exciting changes to your Gazette underline our commitment to you the reader and the communities that we serve – with quality and value at the heart of this new enterprise.”
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