A GLOSSY magazine is being launched in East Kilbride in the second move in recent weeks to fill the gap left by the demise of a Scottish newspaper group.
The East Kilbride Mercury, by the Clyde and Forth Media, follows the winding up of the free title, the East Kilbride Mail, a casualty of the closure of Forth Independent Newspapers in June which, among other things, published the Clackmannanshire paid-for title, the Wee County News.
Last month, Clyde and Forth Media launched three, free newspapers – the Eastside Advertiser, the Allanwater Herald and the Strathallan Times – following the shutting down of Forth Independent’s Eastside News, the Allanwater News and the Strathallan News.
The East Kilbride Mercury will be delievered to 40,000 homes in the area, which is also served by paid-for title, the East Kilbride News – published by Scottish & Universal Newspapers.
Lorna King, formerly of the East Kilbride Mail, has been drafted in to oversee the operation, which, says Clyde and Forth, “will also have an innovative digital presence and be part of the company’s growing events division”.
Tom McConigley, editorial manager of Clyde and Forth Media, told allmediascotland.com: “We’re delighted to have Lorna on board, and excited about moving into the East Kilbride area, which is brimming with potential.
“The events and digital operations have been my main focus points this year, but this opportunity shows that, with the right thinking, the print model is still vibrant.”
Former Wee County News editor, Martin Little, now edits the Eastside Advertiser, the Allanwater Herald and the Strathallan Times.
