View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
January 9, 2014updated 10 Jan 2014 4:17pm

Sunderland Echo replaces Pink football paper with free page-turning digital edition

By Emma McGarthy

The Sunderland Echo has printed its final "Pink" football special bringing an end to 106 years of history. 

Echo sports editor Neil Watson said financial and logistic reasons were behind the move.

Watson said when the paper's printing press closed and print moved to Dinnington, Sheffield, the Football Echo had to be printed  overnight and delivered to the North East on Sunday morning – rather than Saturday afternoon. The final edition of the "Pink" was printed on 28 December, 2013. 

He said that with matches being played outside the traditional 3pm Saturday timeframe, the justification for a football special had waned. 

The Football Echo had an average weekly circulation of 3,865 in the first six months of 2013.

Watson said: “Being online means it is more instantly accessible for our readers, they get the information quicker."

The Football Echo or “Pink” was first published in 1907.

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

Sunderland Echo editor John Szymanski said the Pink  "has followed the fortunes of Sunderland AFC through many highs and lows.

“It is still a great paper that we are very proud of. However, technology has moved on, match times have as well with around half of Sunderland’s games not being at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon – and so we have to move on too.”

The last print edition featured fans memories of the Echo and included the tag: “Sad end of one era, start of new one.”

The Football Echo is now made available on Saturday evenings as a free page-turning digital edition.

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