A HISTORIC Highlands newspaper which has served some of Britain’s most remote communities for more than a century is about to switch from broadsheet format to compact.
The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald – which covers Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey and Kingussie – switches formay from next Thursday.
Say the publishers, Scottish Provincial Press: “As well as making the change from broadsheet, there will be a host of new content designed to get readers involved even more with ‘The Strathy’, as the paper is known locally.”
Adds the publisher: “The relaunch of the newspaper whose origins date back to 1902 is the latest investment to be made by Inverness-based owners Scottish Provincial Press. SPP’s stable of 13 titles also includes the Inverness Courier, Highland News and the Elgin-based Northern Scot which have also benefitted from re-designs in the past 12 months.”
In a SPP statement, editor, Gavin Musgrove, is quoted, as saying: “The new look Strathy will be a much more reader friendly newspaper.
“We will still be best for local news and sport but will have more views, photographs and features.
“It will be everything our readers have come to expect, and a little bit more, but better presented than ever before.”
One of the reasons for the change is a relatively curious production cycle for the weekly title. Recent increases in pagination means the paper has had to be published in two sections. The new compact will be between 50 and 60 pages.
A new masthead and red and grey colour scheme is being introduced.
Publication day is to shift from Wednesday to Thursday.
Adds SPP: “The newspaper, which has its main office in Grantown and a district office in Kingussie, has the distinction of having had just four editors and a news editor at its helm in more than 100 years.”
Amongst the current columnists is Gordon Brown’s former ‘spin doctor’, Charlie Whelan, who lives near Dulnain Bridge.
