View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Business
June 18, 2013updated 09 Jul 2013 1:36pm

Regionals enjoying a Welsh ‘renaissance’? Another newspaper to launch

By William Turvill

A new independent weekly newspaper is to launch in Wales next month – the third to do so in a matter of months.

Some 20,000 copies of the Pembrokeshire Herald will be printed for the first time on 5 July and cost readers across the county 50p.

It follows the launches of the Port Talbot Magnet and Caerphilly Observer in South Wales – both of which were originally local news websites.

The Herald, which is to be published at Megagroup Pembrokeshire, in Milford Haven, is currently seeking to take on three journalists ahead of its release.

The paper is also in the process of launching a website, and is currently on Facebook and Twitter.

A statement on its Twitter page said: “Launching a brand new newspaper title could be seen as a brave venture in this uncertain economic climate, but we at the Herald see a growing need for a county-wide voice for you, the readers.”

Although the area is also served by papers such as the Western Telegraph, editor Bruce Sinclair believes there is a “news gap” to fill in the area.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Sinclair, who has worked across five different Welsh newspapers since 2000, told Press Gazette: “I think the feeling is that locally there is room for competition in the newspaper market.”

He described the recent proliferation of new papers in Wales as "renaissance" for local news after years of cuts made by the UK's big regional publishers.

This year, Trinity Mirror announced it was cutting 16 jobs from Media Wales.

A dummy version of the paper was sent out at the beginning of May. Sinclair said: “Obviously it is a bit of a gamble but I think we are going to have a success.”

The paper will be primarily written in English, but Sinclair also said the paper would have Welsh language content to add to its appeal.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network