New newspaper for ‘The North’ to be launched

A new newspaper called “24” that hopes to be “The North’s National” — aimed mainly at readers in north west England and south west Scotland — will be launched on June 20.

The newspaper will be launched by Carlisle-based CN Group, publishers of the North West Evening Mail and The Cumberland News, and about 95% of the weekday paper’s content will be provided by the Press Association (PA).

PA said the new paper will aim to provide “a distinctly northern perspective to the nation’s biggest news stories.”

“24 – The North’s National” will be distributed across an area from Preston to Lockerbie, and from Hexham in the east and Workington in the west.

PA said that priced at 40p, ‘24’ will “target disenfranchised readers of national newspapers looking for a less expensive alternative to London-centric titles.”

“The publication aims to present a politically-neutral digest of national stories, alongside features and regionally-focussed columns for people with busy working lives,” said PA.

The launch on June 20 will allow 24 to “present a regional slant on some of the year’s most topical events, like the European referendum, UEFA Championships and the Rio Olympics.”

The paper’s sport coverage will focus on teams from Manchester and Liverpool to Newcastle and Glasgow.

National advertising for 24 will be managed by Mediaforce.

PA said 24 will be distributed across an area with a population of 1.15 million adults, and is designed to appeal to a wide-ranging demographic.

Miller Hogg, chief executive of CN Group Ltd, said: “24 will fill a large gap in the regional market by providing a northern take on the national headlines.

“We see our purpose as serving the communities in which we operate, so it follows that CN Group should produce a national newspaper tailored to our patch.

“We know our customers well and have the capacity to print, publish and distribute a new paper for the local market.

“Our collaboration with PA will ensure our readers receive only the highest-quality journalism which delivers the facts devoid of spin, to help readers formulate their own views on the UK’s biggest headlines.”

Tony Watson, managing director of the Press Association, said: “We will work closely with the editorial team at ‘24’ to provide a package of the news and content of most interest to its readers.

“We have an exciting summer ahead, packed full of major political and sporting events, and we aim to provide a variety of content and services to sharpen the appeal of this vibrant new publication.”

PA said 24 will be edited by Mike Haworth, who has wide experience across regional and national publishing.

Haworth previously held senior editorial positions at the Daily Express & Sunday Express and the Daily Star & Sunday Star.

CN Group’s editorial director David Helliwell said: “After so much doom and gloom for the industry this is an exciting new development.

“We believe we have the right package of content and design, spiced with a distinctly northern flavour, to provide a viable alternative in the national newspaper market.”

The 40-page tabloid will be published Monday to Friday, and distributed through Menzies wholesale.