View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
April 30, 2013updated 07 Jan 2014 5:34pm

Local World ditches Northcliffe’s ‘This Is’ website network as new sites launch under newspaper mastheads

By William Turvill

The new owner of Northcliffe – Local World – has begun the process replacing its network of "This Is" sites with new websites which appear under the newspaper mastheads.

The "This Is" stategy was criticised by some because it failed to capitalise on the strong local newspaper brands. 

Last month seven Local World newspapers became the first to launch new websites: the Exeter Express & Echo, Bristol Post, Western Morning News, Gloucester Citizen, Derby Telegraph, Ely News and Hull Daily Mail

In total, the regional publisher is aiming to launch 80 new sites across the UK by the end of the summer.

Here are before and after shots of the Express & Echo, which has changed from www.thisisexeter.co.uk to www.expressandecho.co.uk.

Before:

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

After:

Of the seven titles to launch new websites, Press Gazette was able to access five of their posts announcing the move.

In total, across the Exeter Express & Echo, Bristol Post, Western Morning News, Gloucester Citizen and Derby Telegraph, 117 (mostly negative) comments were left under the announcements.

Here are the most best rated comments under each website's story:

Exeter Express & Echo:

Bristol Post:

Western Morning News (only one comment left):

Gloucester Citizen:

Derby Telegraph:

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network