Northern Echo turns tabloid

13 January 2006

Sarah Lagan

The Northern Echo is to embark on an historic change by switching to a tabloid format.

From January 14 the Saturday edition will be used to test the waters and help determine whether to take the paper tabloid during the week.

It will also have an expanded sports pull-out section more motoring coverage and a new guide to house prices across the region.

Editor of seven years Peter Barron said: "The question I have been asked most frequently is whether the paper's size is to change.

"It has become clear that a large number of readers want us to move to a compact format but there are also a significant number who like the paper as it is.

"The Northern Echo is an institution and great care has to be taken with its future. We have, therefore, decided to try the compact for size on Saturdays.

"Reaction from readers and advertisers will dictate whether the paper stays broadsheet Monday to Friday or goes fully compact. So far, the market research on the new Saturday size has been overwhelmingly positive."

The paper's new design has been in the pipeline for a number of years led by production editor Ken Farrier with consultation from design expert Mike Brough of Fusion Creative Services.

In the redesigned tabloid paper most of the text remains Clarion but Utopia fonts have been used for headlines.

The Darling-based morning title was first published in 1870 and is owned by Newsquest.

It now comprises of five editions which cover the North East and North Yorkshire and has an ABC circulation of 55,404, down from 57,092 for the same period last year.