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July 16, 2014

Independent weekly newspaper celebrates one year anniversary with 8,000 paid-for circulation

By William Turvill

One year after launch, the weekly Pembrokeshire Herald is claiming a paid-for circulation of around 8,000.

And the 50p title, which has seven full-time equivalent editorial positions, has created a music video to celebrate.

The reinterpretation of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire – with the chorus line "we all read the Herald" – features publisher-turned-editor Tom Sinclair dressed as a chicken.

The video promotes some of the newspaper's most memorable front pages over the last year, including one that featured a chicken. 

The Pembrokeshire Herald Song from PEMBS.TV on Vimeo.

The Herald endured a tough start last year. An advert, which appeared in an edition of the paper last July, was doctored to say: "Free pick up from your home, office, or repair shop and c***-sucking." The issue was only discovered after the newspaper had gone on sale.

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In August, the paper's launch editor, Bruce Sinclair, stood down after the publisher, Tom Sinclair (no relation), ran an opinion piece criticising a rival.

But Tom Sinclair said he is pleased with the title's progress since then.

"I think we've done very well in a year to go from nothing to that circulation," he said.

"This is in line with our expectations. Sales of the paper are growing week on week. And there is a general consensus [from the public] that they like the fact it is independent."

This was said in reference to the fact that the paper's rival, the Western Telegraph, gets council money for advertising.

Referring to some of the stories his newspaper has broken Sinclair added: "I can proudly say that we are making a difference in our county."

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