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Thursday is now Independent Day
05.03.10
THE Inishowen
Independent has announced that the popular newspaper
will now go on sale around the peninsula on
Thursdays, beginning March 11. The paper, which has
been published on a Tuesday for three years, made
the announcement in reaction to the fact that three
local papers were vying for the same market on
Tuesdays.
Inishowen Independent general manager Dónal
Campbell, explains the reason behind the move to a
Thursday: “Readers, retailers and advertisers around
Inishowen have been expressing their considerable
annoyance that the Inishowen Independent, Derry
Journal and Inish Times are all on sale on the same
day. It doesn’t make commercial sense. According to
retailers, sales are down in all three papers.
That’s to be expected – why would someone pick three
local papers on any given day? |
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“We have been inundated
with calls of support from retailers, advertisers
and countless members of the general public in the
face of that aggressive move by the Inish Times who
recently moved their day of publication from
Wednesday to Tuesday," added Mr Campbell.
“Many of those callers have suggested we move to
another day. That dovetails with our own thinking –
we want a day of our own and the move by the Inish
Times has afforded us that opportunity. Before we
launched the Inishowen Independent over three years
ago, we strongly considered publishing on a Thursday
– we will do that now but on a bigger and better
scale thanks to the strong foothold we have
established in the Inishowen market.”
As it happens, the first Thursday issue on March 11
coincides with the third anniversary of the
Inishowen Independent. Sports editor and director of
the paper, Damian Dowds, can’t wait for the move.
“All over the country Thursday is recognised as the
traditional publication day for local papers,” he
said. “We have built up a strong reputation for
quality news reporting and a Thursday publication
affords us the opportunity to present a whole new
perspective on local news and sport. In addition, we
have a plethora of new features and content, written
and sourced by Inishowen writers who have their ears
very close to the ground.”
Campbell has no regrets about leaving the Tuesday
slot: “None at all. Business is about growth not
sentiment and moving to a Thursday when we will be
the only Inishowen newspaper on the counter affords
us that opportunity. We are happy to leave the Inish
Times and Derry Journal battle it out on a Tuesday.
Thursday is now our day. Thursday is a better day
for advertisers too – after all 99% of shopping and
entertainment happens towards the weekend.
Undoubtedly we will be best placed with a Thursday
slot to help local businesses get their message
across to potential customers closer to the
weekend.”
Speaking to the Independent, Patrick Gillen of
Gillen’s Supermarket in Moville, said changing to a
Thursday was a smart move.
"Sales of all three papers are down in my shop. I
welcome the fact – both as a retailer and a reader –
that the Inishowen Independent are moving to their
own slot on a Thursday, a busy time of the week
anyway, and I wish them well.” His reaction was
echoed by retailers all over Inishowen. Look out for
the first issue on Thursday, March 11. And spread
the news. |
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