Archant announces 61.1% drop in profits

The Norwich-based publisher Archant has announced a 61.1 per cent fall in operating profits for the year up to June 2009, despite a rise in digital revenues.

Archant, which runs a range of daily and weekly titles in East Anglia, London and the south west of the UK, made £14.8 million in operating cuts so far this year, according to the figures released over the weekend.

The group’s newspaper and printing operations saw a 25.3 per cent decrease in profits over the same period to £49.1 million, while magazine profits were down by 22.2 per cent to £21.7 million.

In contrast, the company’s digital revenues increased by 18.9 per cent – but this rise was not enough to offset the downturn in traditional revenues for the publisher.

“Adjusting to this new and different world and restoring levels of profitability will take time. We remain confident of our ability to exploit the many opportunities to do so, utilising our powerful brands and building on our relationships with our readers and advertisers,” said chairman Richard Jewson in the release.

Tags: Archant, profits

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New look for Archant’s Eastern Daily Press

At the end of last week regional newspaper publisher Archant set live its new look Eastern Daily Press site – part of changes ahead of a larger redesign later this year.

Here’s a snapshot of part of the home page, which now features a wider layout and simpler navigation. The design follows that already seen on the revamped East Anglian Daily Press and Evening Star titles, which will be rolled out group-wide.

“The EDP is Archant’s most popular newspaper website (around 2.5m page views, and 280k monthly unique visitors), and is a regular award-winner. The changes made this week are to intended to give the site a more modern approach (…) and represent the first major redesign since the site was launched in 2001,” James Goffin, Archant regional web producer, told Journalism.co.uk.

“We’ve also reviewed the content on the site to make sure it is fully in tune with what our readers are looking for.

“This first-stage of the relaunch will be followed up later this year with new features as part of our move to a new joint content management system for print and web.”

Congratulations to Archant’s Norfolk web team (Celia Sutton, Tracey Tutt and Vince Yallop) for the EDP overhaull – am sure they’d appreciate any thoughts?

Tags: Archant, Celia Sutton, East Anglian Daily Press, Eastern Daily Press, Evening Star, James Goffin, Tracey Tutt, Vince Yallop

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Digital editors on Twitter – a list for networking and problem-solving

Since I started using Twitter I’ve always been amazed (and grateful) at how quickly calls for technological help and assistance with ideas and projects are answered. It’s one of the main reasons I’m a fan of Twitter.

There are plenty of media/journalist Twitter databases out there, but below are the beginnings of a list of digital editors on Twitter.

What do I mean by digital editor? In this instance, a journalist working primarily online, on web projects or co-ordinating multimedia output. The web editor of a newspaper site or magazine site, for example. It’s in no particular order, except for being divided by ‘traditional’ industry sectors at the moment, but if this isn’t useful, just let us know – would be great to get more international representatives too.

But the criteria for inclusion on the list are intentionally loose – this is aimed at networking, problem-solving and idea sharing between journalists working in the same space and similar roles. (Feel free to nominate any additions or drop us a tweet @journalismnews)

UPDATE April 16 – please read blog post two on how to message the group via Twitter

Newspapers

Alison Gow (@alisongow) – executive editor, digital, Liverpool Daily Post & Liverpool Echo

Kevin Matthews (@kmatt) – head of web and data, Liverpool Daily Post

Neil MacDonald (@xxnapoleonsolo) – deputy head of web and data, Liverpool Daily Post

Jo Wadsworth (@jowadsworth) – web editor, Brighton Argus

Tom Pegg (@tomatthechad) – digital content manager, Mansfield Chad

James Goffin (@jamesgoffin) – regional web producer, Archant

Sarah Booker (@sarah_booker) – web editor, Worthing Herald

Gustav Svensson (@gustavsvensson) – web editor, entertainment and arts, Sydsvenskan.se

Stephen Emerson (@stephen_emerson) – deputy online editor, Scotsman.com

Sam Shepherd (@SamShepherd) – online journalist, Bournemouth Daily Echo

Joanna Geary (@timesjoanna) – web development editor, business, Times Online

Sarah Hartley (@foodiesarah) – head of online editorial, MEN Media

Iain Hepburn (@iainmhepburn) – online editor, DailyRecord.co.uk

Lucia Adams (@luciatimes) – web development editor, Times Online

Carmen Boles (@carmenb) – online news editor, Gazette.com

Marcus Warren (@MarcusWa) – editor, Telegraph.co.uk

Dan Owen (@danowen) – executive editor online, Trinity Mirror

Steve Nicholls (@steve_nicholls) – multimedia editor, Birmingham Post

Anna Jeys (@ajeys) – multimedia editor, Birmingham Mail

Steve Wollaston (@stevewollaston) – multimedia editor, BPM Media and Sunday Mercury

Julie Martin (@jules_27) – Teesside Evening Gazette

Helen Dalby (@helendalby) – regional multimedia manager, NCJ Media

Nick Turner (@nickincumbria) – head of digital content, CN Group

Christian Dunn (@christiandunn) – digital news editor, NWN Media

Hugh Dixon (@hugh_d) – web editor and production editor, thisisbath/Bath Chronicle

Paul Cockerton (@paulcockerton) – web editor, Lancashire Telegraph

Dan Owens (@hornetdan1979) – deputy news editor, Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Dan Kerins (@dankerins) – web journalist, Southern Daily Echo

Broadcast

Marsha Graham (@marshagoldcoast) – multimedia manager for 102.9FM Hot Tomato, Australia

Rob Winder (@robwinder) – news editor, Al Jazeera website, Washington DC

Tom Thorogood (@TomThorogood) – digital news editor, MTV

Magazines

Martin Stabe (@martinstabe) – online editor, Retail Week

Victoria Thompson (@VicThompson) – assistant online editor, Nursing Times

Neil Durham (@NeilDurham) – deputy editor, GP and Independent Nurse

John Robinson (@PulseToday) – digital content manager, Pulse Today

Peter Houston (@p_houston) – editorial director for Advanstar Communications, Europe

Alex Smith (@alexsmith68) – web editor, Building.co.uk

Keira Daley (@daleyrant) – web editor, Australian print magazine

Lara McNamee (@lovelylara33) – assistant intelligence editor, ICIS

Gabriel Fleming (@gabefleming) – online editor, Nursing Times

Janie Stamford (@janiestamford) – contract catering editor, Caterer & Hotelkeeper

Robin Latchem (@lgcplus) – online editor, Local Government Chronicle

Keely Stocker (@keelystocker) – digital content manager, Drapers Online

Scott Matthewman (@scottm) – assistant manager, The Stage

Specialist website

Michael Hubbard (@michaelomh) – founder and music editor, MusicOmh

Krystal Sim (@krystalsim) – web editor for sustainability magazine BSD – bsdlive.co.uk

Arun Marsh (@ArunMarsh) – content producer/editor, Local Gov

Rick Waghorn (@MrRickWaghorn) – publisher, MyFootbalWriter

Emma Waddingham (@emmawad) online editor, Legal-Medical.co.uk

Michael McCarthy (@HealthGuide) online editor, LocalHealthGuide

Steve Gooding (@rmtimestech)- Romney Marsh Times

Manoj Solanki (@ManojSolanki) – SeekBroadband.com

Graham Holliday (@noodlepie) – digital editor, Frontline Club

Craig McGinty (@craigmcginty) – publisher, ThisFrenchLife

Mark Crail (@markcrail) – managing editor, XpertHR

Freelance

Adam Oxford (@adamoxford)

Rachel Colling (@rachcolling)

Ashanti Omkar (@ashantiomkar)

Tags: Adam, Adam Oxford, Alex Smith, Alison Gow, Anna Jeys, Archant, Arun Marsh, Ashanti Omkar, assistant intelligence editor, assistant manager The Stage, assistant online editor Nursing, Australia, Bath Chronicle, Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post, Bournemouth Daily, Brighton Argus, BSD, Building.co.uk, business to business, Carmen Boles, Christian Dunn, CN Group, content editor Contract, content producer/editor Local, Contract Journal, Craig McGinty, DailyRecord.co.uk, Dan Kerins, Dan Owen, Dan Owens, deputy editor GP and Independent, deputy news editor Northampton Chronicle and, deputy online editor, digital content manager, digital content manager Drapers, digital content manager Pulse, digital editor, digital news editor, digital news editor NWN, editor, editor and production editor thisisbath/Bath, editorial director, Emma Waddingham, European Life, EUROPEAN LIFE AND PENSIONS, executive editor, executive editor online, founder and music editor, Frontline Club, Gabriel Fleming, Gazette.com, Graham Holliday, Gustav Svensson, head of digital content, head of online editorial, head of web, Helen Dalby, Hugh Dixon, Independent Nurse, James Goffin, Janie Stanford, Jo Wadsworth, Joanna Geary, Joe Braidwood, John Robinson, Jon Gripton, journalist, Julie Martin, Julie Martins, Keely Stocker, Keira Daley, Kevin Matthews, Krystal Sim, Lancashire Telegraph, Lara McNamee, Legal-Medical.co.uk, Liverpool Daily Post, Liverpool Echo, Local Government Chronicle, Lucia Adams, magazine site, manager Drapers Online, manager NCJ Media, manager Pulse Today, manager for 102.9FM Hot Tomato, Manoj Solanki, Mansfield Chad, Marcus Warren, Mark Crail, Marsha Graham, Martin Stabe, Michael Hubbard, Michael McCarthy, MTV, MTV Oy, multimedia editor, multimedia editor Birmingham, multimedia editor Birmingham Post, multimedia manager, Neil Durham, Neil Macdonald, news editor, news editor Sky News, newspaper site, Nick Turner, Northampton Chronicle, Nursing Times, online editor, online editor Local Government, online editor Nursing, online editor Retail, online editorial, online journalist Bournemouth Daily, online news editor, Paul Cockerton, Peter Houston, Rachel Colling, regional multimedia manager NCJ, regional web producer, Rick Waghorn, Rob Winder, Robin Latchem, Sam Shepherd, Sarah Booker, Sarah Hartley, scotsman.com, Scott Matthewman, Sky News, Southern Daily Echo, Stanford, Stephen Emerson, Steve Gooding, Steve Nicholls, Steve Wollaston, Telegraph.co.uk, The News Press & Gazette Company, Tom Pegg, Tom Thorogood, Trinity Mirror, Trinity Mirror PLC, Victoria Thompson, Victoria Thomson, Washington DC, Washington United States, web development editor business, web development editor Times, web editor, web editor Lancashire, web editor Worthing, web editor and production editor, web journalist Southern Daily, web producer, web projects, Worthing Herald

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Editorial redundancies at Archant Norfolk: UPDATED: 34 to go

Archant Norfolk, which publishes the Eastern Daily Press and Evening News amongst others, has announced 54 [since updated to] 34editorial redundancies as part of ongoing plans to integrate news operations at the division.

The new system, the implementation of which began more than a year ago, involves a £2 million investment by the publisher.

The publisher will enter into a consultation with staff, it confirmed in a press release.

“We have reduced staff numbers in our other departments such as marketing and advertising sales recently and editorial has not been subject to any major review in the last two years,” said Stephan Phillips, managing director, in the release.

Tags: Archant, Eastern Daily Press, Stephan Phillips, the Eastern Daily Press, uk

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Archant and Telegraph in geotagged search launches

Archant’s EDP24 site has released a new local business directory complete with search results plotted on a Google map, which can be refined by distance.

The directory builds on Archant’s existing jobs and property sites, Jobs24 and Homes24, which use geotagging technology to map the listings.

Built into the directory are a range of packages for advertisers looking to have a listing on the site.

Still no word on Archant’s geotagged news plans though…

In a similar vein, Telegraph.co.uk announced a partnership with vertical search engine Nestoria last week to ramp up its property listings.

As a blog post from Nestoria announcing the deal says:

“The partnerships has two dimensions: Telegraph users are presented with a Telegraph branded version of Nestoria property search, and Telegraph estate agents will have their 150,000+ listings displayed on Nestoria.”

Tags: Archant, EDP24, Nestoria, property search, search engine, search results, Telegraph.co.uk

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Archant’s director of business development, Ian Davies dies in plane crash

We just heard news that Ian Davies, director of business development at Archant, has died in a plane crash – as reported at the BBC, Press Gazette and in his group’s newspaper, the Norwich Evening News.

Journalism.co.uk is extremely sad to hear of this tragic accident.

On a personal note, I met Ian and some his colleagues for the first time, at the WAN conference in Amsterdam last fortnight.

Despite cornering him after a long conference session to badger him for information about Archant’s hyperlocal news plans, he was only too friendly towards me, happy to help and give suggestions for stories.

I later had opportunity to chat with him more informally and find a bit more out about his views on the media and what he does. He assured me he would always be willing to contribute to related articles.

True to his word, last week he was quick to contribute to an article I was working on at the last minute. I’m very saddened by the premature end to his life.

In an email he told me he was looking forward to working more flexibly at Archant from January, so that he could fit in more time for his passion, flying. His website shows some of his interests. That his life was cut so short, when he had so much enthusiasm for his projects, seems a particularly cruel hand of fate.

Our condolences go out to Ian’s family, friends and colleagues.

Tags: Archant, Ian Davies, the Norwich Evening News, WAN, WAN Amsterdam

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HTFP: Archant Suffolk journalists to pool content, write for online ‘editions’

Journalists at Archant Suffolk titles the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Evening Star are to produce content for both papers' print and online platforms. The titles' websites will also have three 'editions' a day, with content published online to coincide with peaks in audience traffic at breakfast, noon and 'drive-time'. Full story...

Tags: Archant, Evening Star, Local, online platforms, the East Anglian Daily Times

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Adrian Jeakings will replace John Fry at Archant

Following the news that Archant’s CEO John Fry will be the new chief executive at Johnston Press, Archant have announced that Adrian Jeakings will replace him.

Jeakings, currently finance director at the Archant group, will commence the role on November 1. Prior to working at Archant he was the group finance director of the Stationery Office.

Brian McCarthy will replace Jeakings as Archant’s group finance director.

The chairman of Archant, Richard Jewson, said in a release published today: “Both Adrian and Brian have contributed a great deal to our success and it is a tribute to John Fry that he has created such a strong management team”.

Johnston Press have also released a statement announcing that Fry will take over from the retiring CEO, Tim Bowdler, from January 5 2009.

In the release, John Fry said: “I am extremely excited to be joining Johnston Press and relish the opportunity to build on the success of Tim Bowdler and his team. The company has a strong local media franchise covering large parts of the UK and Ireland which I look forward to developing in both print and digital formats.”

Tags: Adrian Jeakings, Archant, Brian McCarthy, John Fry, Richard Jewson, Stationery Office, Tim Bowdler

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FT.com: Archant boss John Fry finalising contract with Johnston Press

Johnston Press is set to appoint John Fry, currently the chief executive of Archant newspaper group, to replace outgoing chief executive Tim Bowdler. Full story...

Tags: Archant, John Fry, Management Change, Tim Bowdler

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France magazine editor writes for Times Online

The editor of Archant-owned France Magazine, Carolyn Boyd, has been commissioned to write a monthly article for the Times Online travel section.

Hoping to attract interest in her own magazine, the article links to the magazine’s website and its subscriptions page.

“I’d written for them before I joined France Magazine, so it’s a great way of carrying on the relationship and promoting the magazine at the same time,” she said.

Tags: Archant, Carolyn Boyd, france, France Magazine, Marseille, Online travel section, Steve Keenan, subscriptions, The Times, times

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