Geoff Martin, new editor of the Hampstead & Highgate Express, is making his presence felt with the launch of a new edition of the paper this week, writes Jean Morgan.
The weekly Wood&Vale Express covers Marylebone, St John’s Wood and Maida Vale. The Ham&High also publishes the High&I in Highbury and Islington and has a “Broadway” slip edition covering Muswell Hill and Crouch End.
The first Wood&Vale edition will have 56 pages and a print run of around 10,000. It will have a 40-page property section, and carry the Ham&High’s highly popular arts and features section – one of the paper’s key selling points.
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Some of the existing staff are now dedicated to the Wood&Vale and Ham&High deputy editor John Dunne, who has been closely involved in the project, is using a number of freelances.
Martin joined the Archant weekly from the Belfast Newsletter last November. He said: “It’s great to start a new year with a new initiative. I’m confident the Wood&Vale will be quickly and warmly welcomed by readers in an area which is crying out for the kind of quality journalism the Ham&High is famous for.
“We have a wonderful opportunity, virtually on our own doorstep, to produce a paper which is vital, relevant and appreciated, in an important area which in truth has not been well-served by the weekly press.”
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Martin sees editorial coverage as being issue-driven, with strong emphasis on reader engagement, backed by promotional activity.
Strategy for the Wood&Vale launch has been developed by Archant North London & Hertfordshire’s regional director, Garry Matthews, who said: “It is the very promise of editorial excellence that makes the launch of this title so appealing.”
The Ham&High’s latest sales figure is 21,504.
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