Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Anxious 'Guardian' chiefs plan early launch of revamped paper

Tim Webb
Saturday 02 April 2005 18:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Guardian has pencilled in an autumn launch for its new "Berliner" format.

The Guardian has pencilled in an autumn launch for its new "Berliner" format.

Executives at Guardian Media Group are thought to be anxious about the success of compact editions of The Independent and The Times, and want to accelerate the paper's own relaunch, which was originally planned for 2006.

They have been meeting media-buying agencies over the past month to show them dummy editions of the new A3-style newspaper, which is between a broadsheet and tabloid newspaper in size.

Agencies want reassurances that the new format - the first of its kind in the UK - will be attractive to advertisers. "Ber-liner" is a reference to a daily Berlin paper of the same size.

But it is understood that technical issues could prevent an early start. Industry sources have indicated that problems with the new printing presses could push the launch into the second half of 2006.

Media buyers shown the dummies had to sign a confidentiality agreement promising not to disclose details of the new format. But some buyers have told The Independent on Sunday that a typical front page of the new Guardian newspaper would contain three main stories and a main picture.

One media buyer who has seen a dummy said: "It certainly looks different. But I thought they were trying to cram too much on to the page."

Last week, Starcom, a buying agency owned by media conglomerate Publicis, said in its Media Market report last week that Guardian Media Group wants to bring forward the new format's launch to this autumn.

Another media buyer who recently met executives from the newspaper company said they wanted the launch to happen as early as late summer. "It's a case of sooner rather than later for them," he said.

Guardian Media Group is constructing a new print works near Bow in east London. The building is close to completion and sections of the new printing equipment needed for the format are already in place.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in