The Argus, Brighton, recorded two of its highest sales of the year with its coverage of the fire on the city’s famous West Pier, writes Martin McNamara.
The evening paper produced five pages of pictures and reports on the spectacular blaze on the 28 March and followed it up with a further 11 in the following day’s paper, including a four-page, colour picture wrap.
Retail sales of the Friday newspaper were up almost 30 per cent on the previous week, with a total sale of 51,619. The Saturday edition sold 50,283, including 39,785 retail sales copies – almost 43 per cent up on the previous week.
Editor-in-chief Simon Bradshaw, who was training on an NCE refresher course in Darlington, said: “The papers were superb and the whole team from reporters to van drivers did a great job. Particular praise goes to the photographers and assistant editor (production) Pat Lewis who was trying to chief sub and edit the paper at the same time.”
Martin McNamara
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