A change is as good as a holiday, so the saying goes. And it is to be hoped that readers find the change the Chronicle is about to launch as refreshing as a nice break.
For those who haven't caught up with the news, the Wanganui Chronicle, is undergoing aformat change for its weekday editions. Monday to Friday the paper will adopt the smaller tabloid size like its popular sister publication, Wanganui Midweek. The weekend edition published on Saturday will stay in the bigger broadsheet format. Both incarnations of the Chronicle will contain new features to go with their new layout.
It is fair to say that the Chronicle enjoys strong support from the community it serves. Our circulation and readership statistics bear that out. So it is that dramatic changes such as this are not taken lightly but, as with all the modifications we make to our product, we do so with readers in mind. We aim to maintain our standing as a compelling news service and ensure that we continue to be the dominant news gatherer in the region.
We are following a worldwide trend in the shift to tabloid, which is seen as a friendlier, more modern and convenient format. This change takes place on April 16.
So what's it all about? Primarily it's a change in the size of our pages. The paper's content will not change. Not in a negative way, rather we are aiming to use this as a springboard to a positive new era of news and information for Wanganui.
We have been working hard to try to ensure that our new-look paper meets your needs, by introducing new features to go along with improved presentation and sectioning of themed content.
This change is among the biggest to our regional daily newspaper since its inception back in 1856 and, to coincide with our first edition, we will launch a Celebrating Wanganui campaign. This will comprise a series of articles and photos, reader contributions, online feedback through social media; all focusing on the positive aspects of Wanganui life: the great people, organisations and amenities.
If you have an idea for this series, or want to offer any feedback on our changes, feel free to email me.
