Latest News
06.11.09
Associated Newspapers announced today that London Lite will close on November 13 after a period of consultation with its staff members. expand collapse
“Following a lengthy consultation with London Lite staff, we’ve together decided to produce our last issue on Friday November 13,” explained Steve Auckland, managing director, Associated Newspapers Free Division.
“I’d like to thank all of the staff at Lite for their unbridled enthusiasm and magnificent contributions to the paper over the last three years. It’s been a pleasure to work with a small and highly motivated team of individuals. I’d also like to thank the agencies and clients for supporting a unique offering in the afternoon market place – and not forgetting our one million daily readers.”
07.10.09
The electronic version of the Mail is to be made available in over 100 countries worldwide after Amazon today confirmed the launch of an international version of its market-leading e-reader Kindle expand collapse
The Mail made its e-reader debut in July in the US, at $9.99 for a monthly subscription or 75 cents for a single issue. It is one of over 85 leading US and international newspapers and magazines available on the device, including the Washington Post, El Pais and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. This is in addition to the more than 300,000 books on offer.
"I am thrilled that we will be able to offer the Daily Mail to countries across the globe," commented Amazon's head of business development for digital media Genevieve Kunst.
Kindle wirelessly downloads books, magazines, newspapers and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution 6-inch electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper. And with the experimental Text-To-Speech feature, Kindle can read most newspapers, magazines and books out loud.
Readers around the world can pre-order Kindle today for $279 (£175) at www.amazon.com/kindle and it will begin shipping October 19.
01.10.09
This weekend sees a first for The Mail on Sunday - the exclusive UK distribution of a new star-packed Hollywood film expand collapse
This Sunday's edition comes with a free DVD of Nobel Son - no, not a standard Connect typo, the title refers to a winner of the prestigious prize for chemistry - for its millions of readers.
Starring Alan Rickman, Eliza Dushku and Danny DeVito - and with cameos from the likes of Ted Danson and Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson - the film focuses on the kidnapping of Barkley Michaelson (Bryan Greenberg), the son of award-winning scientist Eli (Rickman) and renowned forensic psychiatrist Sarah (Mary Steenburgen).
"No other paper has ever done anything like this before," commented Associated Newspapers chief marketing officer Roland Agambar. "While The Mail on Sunday is always interested in 'exclusive firsts', it's always content dependent. We saw Nobel Son as a great opportunity premier an exciting film in the UK and we hope that offers such as this will bring new readers to the paper."
The move follows other notable innovations from the paper, such as the release of Prince's Planet Earth album and last Christmas' album and downloadable single from the ACM Gospel Choir.
At the fourth annual Stonewall Awards Associated's urban daily is nominated for Publication of the Year alongside the Financial Times, G3, People Management and the Times. Previous winners include the Guardian, Pink News and Time Out.
Organised by the UK's leading lesbian, gay and bisexual charity Stonewall and supported by Barclays, the awards ceremony - hosted by Gok Wan - takes place on November 5 at London's V&A.
Nominees for other categories include Nicholas de Jongh, Boyzone and Commons Speaker John Bercow.
17.09.09
Metro has joined up with Sony Pictures for the first ever 3D cover wrap on a UK newspaper. expand collapse
37, 500 copies of tomorrow's paper, distributed in London, will carry a 3D cover wrap with a pair of 3D glasses tipped on the front page.
The activity, created by Empire Design and planned by MGOMD, has been devised to promote the release of Sony Pictures first 3D animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Inspired by the children’s book of the same title, it focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. The film hits cinemas tomorrow.
All four pages of the cover wrap will be available in 3D. The front cover will feature an image of three of the film’s characters protecting themselves from a shower of meatballs, with a range of different food falling from the sky on the back cover. Each page will announce that the film is now on general release.
“With the buzz surrounding 3D films and televisions it is really exciting to be the first UK newspaper to implement this technology," commented Grant Woodthorpe, Metro's executive director of Sales, "Sony Pictures is sure to make a real impact with this wrap.”
“We needed a media opportunity to reflect our excitement about the release of Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs," added Stuart Williams, marketing director of Sony Pictures Releasing. "The 3D Metro cover wrap is a great addition to our media plan and the perfect way to bring the film’s point of difference to life. We’re extremely happy to be the first advertiser to use 3D technology on the cover of a national newspaper.”
03.09.09
Mail Online takes daily lead expand collapse
Having recently set a new record for UK newspaper website traffic, Mail Online has now become the first to publish its daily ABCe figures.
As Connect reported last week, the companion site to the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday recorded an all-time high of 29.87million unique users in July's ABCe report, up 1.7% sequentially and 51.8% as compared to the same month last year.
Having widened the traffic gap with its competitors to the most significant levels yet, Mail Online has now taken another lead in revealing daily visit numbers. A July average of 1.73 million users compares to 1.48 million for Guardian.co.uk and 1.45 million for The Sun's website, the two next best performing newspaper sites in terms of daily visits.
Of the total, 603,559 visitors come from within the UK, with none of Mail Online's rivals revealing their equivalent figures, a fact that a prominent ad on the back page of leading industry magazine Media Week draws attention to.
03.08.09
Jobsite has been named the UK’s top website for jobseekers by the Sunday Times expand collapse
With the number of Britons looking for work set to approach the three million mark, the respected broadsheet set out to determine the best in online recruitment, and placed the AND site in pole position, describing it as “one of the UK’s biggest job sites – that snappy URL is a clue to just how early it got in.”
Its posting of around 100,000 vacancies – searchable by location and type – was cited by the paper, as were the free CV check, career advice and its BeMyInterviewer application.
“We’re delighted to be named number one job board by the Sunday Times,” Jobsite CEO Keith Potts told Connect.
“One of our key objectives is to take the pain out of job hunting and make finding a new job quick and easy. Being recognised as number one job board amongst all of our competitors shows that we are achieving this and is a huge compliment for everyone at Jobsite.”
23.07.09
Mail takes top spot in ABCes as it leapfrogs the Guardian expand collapse
The Mail Online boosted its traffic by 19% in June, attracting over 29m users and leapfrogging the Telegraph.co.uk and the Guardian.co.uk to become the most popular UK national newspaper site, according to the latest ABCe figures.
Mail Online, which includes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday sites, jumped from 24.6m unique users in May to hit a record 29.4m.
Its UK users also climbed from 7.97m in May to 8.3m in June.
Martin Clarke, Mail Online publisher, said: "Obviously we are delighted to have regained the number one spot in terms of monthly unique visitors and we are particularly pleased with the increase in UK traffic. This is the result of steady and consistent growth since the redesign of our site in May 2008.
"MailOnline's continued growth as a major player in the world news market is becoming increasingly important as we get better at monetising our overseas traffic."
13.07.09
Already one of the UK’s most popular websites, Mail Online is bolstering its daily video content, as part of a new partnership with ITN. expand collapse
The news and content provider, in which DMGT has a 20% stake, will supply the site with video content via its multimedia division ITN ON. The comprehensive selection of news, business and sports clips, both domestic and international, to accompany main stories could involve the production of up to 100 video packages for Mail Online each day, ITN said.
In addition the agency will provide celebrity interviews, film reviews and other showbiz content.
“We believe our video will complement existing text and stills content to offer compelling viewing for users,” explained ITN’s commercial director Mark Browning.
“ITN On has demonstrated to us that they have high-quality content,” added Mail Online managing director James Bromley. “We are looking forward to working with them to add video to even more of our stories.”
13.07.09
Jobsite has launched a new product enabling its clients to have extensive reach to their target audience through advertising across A&N Media’s digital portfolio. expand collapse
The product will allow employers to take their brand or vacancies to relevant jobseekers across the Group’s digital platforms, consisting of Mail Online, Northcliffe Media, Metro and Motors.co.uk – with a combined reach of 71.8% of the UK’s online population – and publishers including the Independent.
And with employers still eager to recruit the best candidate despite the current economic climate, as reported by Jobsite’s Recessional Recruitment study, CEO Keith Potts believes the service will offer companies unrivalled exposure.
“Our latest offering, alongside the outstanding reach of our group network, allows recruiters to be in front of candidates, not just on Jobsite, but also as they search for news on Mail Online or The Independent, or look to purchase a new car or home on Motors.co.uk or across Northcliffe’s local sites.
“The behavioural targeting we’ve developed means that recruiters’ brand or vacancy display advertising will only be seen by the interested job hunters they’re looking to reach. We’re also excited to be able to offer additional advertising opportunities on Jobsite to further help companies build their brand presence with their target audience.”
By segmenting users by criteria such as sector, location, salary and skills, recruiters’ can now put their brand and vacancy display advertising in front of the candidates relevant to them as they visit sites within A&N Media’s digital portfolio.
Additionally, to ensure recruitment remains cost effective, Jobsite will provide recruiters with a co-branded template that can accommodate up to three job listings that share the same targeting and reach objectives.
A re-design to Jobsite’s home, sector and channel pages also offers an improved advertising inventory leaderboards, skyscrapers and MPU’s which are all flash enabled, expandable and can accept video.
10.07.09
Associated Newspapers has teamed up with Amazon to make its e-reader debut, on the latter’s US market-leading Kindle device. expand collapse
The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday are now available for American customers via amazon.com for either a monthly subscription or a single issue. Issues are automatically delivered wirelessly to subscriber’s e-readers so they can read the paper each morning.
Launched in 2007, the Kindle – in addition to leading newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Le Monde and TIME – offers over 300,000 books and more than 5,000 top blogs updated daily.
08.07.09
Over 50% of employers are still blooding new talent – filling bottom line roles to offset growing demand for middle management positions – despite the economic downturn, a new Jobsite research report has found. expand collapse
Recessional Recruiting, a study on hiring during an economic downturn, has also found the most sought-after hires include strategic consultants and sales managers, with 35% of UK employers hoping to ride out the recession by recruiting specific talent.
The study also points to a rise in demand for middle management positions, with three times as many such roles now available for every senior role, reflecting an increase employer desire to retain experienced staff.
“As the recession continues, your recruitment plans will undoubtedly be impacted,” commented Jobsite CEO Keith Potts. “ It’s important for all businesses to have plans in place to work through the period in as smooth a way as possible while remaining competitive.”
“A recruitment freeze may seem like your only option, but by making some key appointments now it could help your company to both survive the recession and place it in a good position for rapid recovery as the economy improves. If recruitment really isn’t an option, look at how you can utilise other existing talent and adjust roles and responsibilities across the organisation.”
Jobsite outlines four recession beating recruitment tips:
- Make critical and crucial hires now: Taking positive steps, such as continuing with graduate schemes, will negate the need for greater investment in the long-term.
- Restructure: Examine employee skill sets, adjust roles and redeploy where necessary to make the most of existing talent.
- Develop talent: Create a talent management strategy and identify the key people to hold on to meet career development needs to maintain an edge over competitors.
- Be open and honest: Take steps to be open and honest with employees to win confidence and trust. Positive internal communication can motivate and inspire staff during tough times.
The full Recessional Recruitment study is available on Jobsite.
02.07.09
Associated Newspapers and The Irish Times, joint owners of Metro Ireland, and Independent News and Media, owners of Herald AM, have agreed to merge the two newspapers into a single new title, Metro Herald, with each shareholder retaining one third of the merged business. expand collapse
The merger, which is subject to the approval of the Competition Authority, will see the shareholders increase investment into the merged business.
The new free newspaper, Metro Herald, will see 70,000 plus copies distributed daily in the Greater Dublin Area.
Steve Auckland, Chairman, Metro Ireland and Managing Director of Associated Newspapers Free Division said:
“This is a great development for all 3 parties. This combination of two quality free daily titles ensures that despite the difficult market conditions, Dublin commuters will continue to enjoy a free daily newspaper and advertisers will benefit from access to a young, urban audience.”
Vincent Crowley, Chief Executive, Independent Newspapers (Ireland) said
“The strong local brand of Herald AM, merged with Metro Ireland, creates a unique free daily newspaper. Readers and advertisers alike will welcome this development, which meets the needs of Dublin’s morning commuters for a light yet informative read, and serves effectively those advertisers that seek to engage with them”
Maeve Donovan, Managing Director, The Irish Times Ltd said:
“The merger will build on the success of Metro in creating a strong newspaper brand for young urban commuters. It will provide a powerful platform for advertisers as a single unified title looking to maximize the effectiveness of advertising spend to this valuable audience.”
Stevie Roden was named Sports Journalist of the Year and his colleague Dan Matthams Sports Photographer of the Year at a ceremony held at Birmingham. Steve scooped the sports journalist of the year award for a second consecutive year citing his stories charting the Olympic success of local athletes as key to his success.
Robin Johnson of the Derby Telegraph won the Business Journalist of the Year award, while the Sentinel's Alex Severn received the Trevor Roberta Award, given in memory of the late Birmingham Post and Mail photo editor to the best up-and-coming photographer in the region.
11.06.09
Audience Dynamics research shows A&N Media reaches 43% of UK adults. expand collapse
New figures show that the A&N Media print and online portfolio reaches 43% of UK adults. The groundbreaking 'Audience Dynamics' research, conducted by Survey Interactive, shows that the A&N Media portfolio reaches 20.9 million people in the UK*.
Audience Dynamics is unique in that it enables the calculation of total audience and reach across different platforms, meaning advertisers can see how many people read A&N Media's newspapers and/or one of its websites without any duplication.
The methodology provides advertisers with accurate knowledge of who is exposed to online and print adverts across the A&N Media portfolio. It measures actual audiences and their online behaviours rather than unique users and devices, providing detailed profile data of site visitors, such as age, sex and social grade; thus allowing advertisers to target audiences on a bespoke basis across the portfolio.
Please note Teletext Television has not been included in this survey. Our estimated reach with Teletext Television included is 60% of UK adults.
* Based on reading an average issue of any print publication or past month use of any website
10.06.09
Production of the digital editions of A&N Media's stable of free newspapers will be handed to software development company PageSuite, after a deal was struck between the two. expand collapse
Electronic versions of Metro and the urban daily's Irish edition, London Lite and United Arab Emirates English-language free newspaper 7Days, will extend the titles' reach beyond their print circulation and web traffic figures.
"Our electronic editions provide a convenient way of accessing our content. We are focused on delivering a first-class customer experience and PageSuite's market-leading product helps us achieve that," commented Stuart Wood, operations director for Metro.
Stuart added that A&N Media and PageSuite are working towards the creation of a rich media product so that readers will be able to enjoy an interactive experience, providing new opportunities for consumers and advertisers alike.
Each of the new A&N Media free division online publications have been customised, from customers email alerts to the bespoke digital edition reader interface. The online editions are free to download from and view on the titles' websites, while content can also be tagged to social media sites.
10.06.09
May ABC results for Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Metro and London Lite. expand collapse
The Daily Mail's circulation of 2,196,483 for May represents a marginal decrease of 0.23% compared to April. The Mail on Sunday dropped by 1.62% month-on-month to 2,065,415.
Metro retained third place among the national dailies, with a national distribution of 1,335,510 (up 0.25% on April) and keeping it above The Mirror. London Lite’s distribution remained steady (up 0.25% on April) at 400,988.
02.06.09
Motors.co.uk backs OFT drive. expand collapse
Vehicle matching scams are costing UK consumers millions of pounds every year, and Motors.co.uk is playing its part in addressing the growing problem.
The AN Digital site is backing the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) campaign against the scams involving fraudsters approaching consumers selling their cars and promising to find them a definite buyer.
Typically, the seller is cold-called once they have placed an advert in a magazine, a website or a newspaper. They are promised that a buyer has been found for their vehicle but told that they must pay a matcher's fee up front before the sale is completed. However, in many cases there is no buyer, the contract with the vehicle matcher cannot be cancelled, and any money paid is lost.
Last year over 1,600 private sellers of second hand cars complained to Consumer Direct about the practice, losing between £80 and £99 each, but the true number of victims is thought to be much larger with latest estimates of consumer losses valued at almost £3 million.
The OFT has co-ordinated the sharing of intelligence between different enforcement agencies to target action against traders engaged in unfair commercial practices and has organised a day of action with the police, local authority Trading Standards Services and consumer bodies to crack down on the car matching scammers.
Motors.co.uk is supporting an industry-wide partnership to combat the scams, which will see prominent warnings displayed on all the major used car websites to alert private sellers of the vehicle matching scam as soon as their car is listed for sale.
The site has previously spearheaded a number of industry wide campaigns to tackle car fraud and was one of the founding members of the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG), an industry body specifically created to highlight the dangers of vehicle fraud.
In March, Motors.co.uk launched a nationwide campaign with the Metropolitan Police and motoring expert Quentin Willson to highlight the growing problem of car fraud. The AN Digital site also provides free history checks for all cars listed on the site providing additional security for car buyers.
A&N Media stablemates Metro and London Lite were the two top risers in the year ending March 31, figures released by the National Readership Survey (NRS) show.
London Lite posted an increase of 31% as compared to the previous 12 months, to 1.16 million readers, 80,000 readers more than thelondonpaper, despite the News International title distributing around 100,000 more copies each day.
Metro saw its national readership increase by 24% year-on-year, to 3.47 million. This came amid declines for most national papers.
27.05.09
A&N Media joins IAB Council. expand collapse
A&N Media has become the latest additional to the Leadership Council of the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), it was announced today.
"Combining group and brand strategy has grown us to a formidable size across five display revenue streams and now we must confirm, present and seek clarity from the market," commented group commercial director Andy Mitchell. "The IAB is instrumental in this type of activity."
With an online portfolio including market leaders such as Mail Online, Jobsite and FindaProperty.com, it joins fellow media majors Google, Guardian News and Media, Orange, Telegraph Media Group and Yahoo! - among others - on the council.
"A&N Media is a significant player in digital, commanding big audiences across a portfolio of premium sites, so it's fitting that they should be on the top table at the IAB," added the digital advertising trade association's chief executive Guy Phillipson.
"We very much look forward to their contribution to the IAB's many industry initiatives, and to helping Associated grow in the digital space."
Within its digital consumer division A&N Media has over 150 websites which when combined with its performance products achieves a monthly reach of 70% of the UK internet population.
The Leadership Council is comprised of 11 leading media owners companies and is responsible for the strategic direction of the IAB, ensuring that the IAB's remit remains relevant and to the benefit of the industry.
21.05.09
The regional newspaper industry is “well-placed to come through the advertising recession and continue our evolution into successful multimedia businesses”, Michael Pelosi said today. expand collapse
As he brings his year as president of the Newspaper Society to an end, Northcliffe Media’s MD concedes in today’s NS Annual Review that the sector is “living through the most challenging economic times of the last 50 years and our response – both collectively and individually – will shape the future of UK regional and local media”.
Michael hands over to Iliffe News & Media’s David Fordham on July 1, having succeeded Russell Whitehair, chairman of independent publisher NWN Media, last summer.
Citing the challenge – faced by all media – of how to monetise web audiences as a key issue moving forward, Michael noted that in addition to the 40 million readers of local newspapers across the UK each week, 24 million users visit their companion websites every month.
“I have a total belief in the future of independent local newspapers as the backbone of the UK media industry offering the only source of local investigative journalism and fulfilling a vital local democratic role not matched by the many competitors for local audiences and advertising” he added.
“I have been impressed how highly the society is regarded as the representative body for the industry by all key opinion formers. Its effectiveness was no more clearly demonstrated than in its campaign against BBC local, and in shaping the current local media agenda within the government and opposition”.
21.05.09
Regional Newspapers are 'well placed' says MD of Northcliffe Media. expand collapse
The regional newspaper industry is "well-placed to come through the advertising recession and continue our evolution into successful multimedia businesses", Michael Pelosi, Managing Director of Northcliffe Media said today.
As he brings his year as president of the Newspaper Society to an end, Northcliffe Media's MD concedes in today's NS Annual Review that the sector is "living through the most challenging economic times of the last 50 years and our response - both collectively and individually - will shape the future of UK regional and local media".
Michael hands over to Iliffe News & Media's David Fordham on July 1, having succeeded Russell Whitehair, chairman of independent publisher NWN Media, last summer. Citing the challenge - faced by all media - of how to monetise web audiences as a key issue moving forward, Michael noted that in addition to the 40 million readers of local newspapers across the UK each week, 24 million users visit their companion websites every month.
"I have a total belief in the future of independent local newspapers as the backbone of the UK media industry offering the only source of local investigative journalism and fulfilling a vital local democratic role not matched by the many competitors for local audiences and advertising" he added.
"I have been impressed how highly the society is regarded as the representative body for the industry by all key opinion formers. Its effectiveness was no more clearly demonstrated than in its campaign against BBC local, and in shaping the current local media agenda within the government and opposition".
21.05.09
Mail Online enjoyed a strong April, figures released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic and Nielsen Online show. expand collapse
Mail Online enjoyed a strong April, figures released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic and Nielsen Online show.
Posting a 28.3% year-on-year increase, the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday's companion website achieved its second highest ever number of unique users last month, with 23,153,003, according to ABCe. Of that its UK audience totalled 6.94 million users.
In the US Nielsen Online ranked Mail Online - along with the BBC network of sites the only UK-based entry - at 25 in its top 30 current event and global news destination sites, up five places and 21.3% on March. Its unique user total of 5.16 million represents an increase of 70% on the same month last year.
As revealed in DMGT's half year report earlier today, revenue from A&N Media's online newspapers was up 15% to £5 million.
14.05.09
Coverage of the Cannes Film Festival today kicks off the VIP channel on Metro.co.uk's popular MEView video-sharing platform. expand collapse
The channel is the first on MEView to feature professional editorial content, courtesy of digital broadcaster t5m.com. Videos featured as part of this deal will include other high profile award shows, parties and events.
"This is an exciting development and partnership for Metro.co.uk," commented Ryan Battles, Metro's digital editor. "While plenty of broadcasters offer red carpet video footage, t5m.com are the guys who get behind the velvet rope and party with the stars. We still have fantastic user generated video on MEview, but adding this professional behind-the-scenes footage will enhance the depth of choice for our video viewers."
Content will also include a wide range of in-depth, narrative interviews with personalities ranging from Ranulph Fiennes and Rufus Wainwright to Steve Redgrave and Paul Oakenfold.
"We are incredibly pleased to seal this deal with the Metro.co.uk, which has the biggest online audience of young, urban readers," said Charlie Muirhead, CEO of t5m.com. "We have a whole category dedicated to t5m and expect this to be a hugely successful partnership."
Metro.co.uk generates 9 million UK page impressions and has 1.2 million UK unique users per month.
In 2007 the Metro brand was extended further to include a mobile site and two innovative user generated content sites MEview and MEmusic.
12.05.09
Northcliffe Media and AN Digital are set to launch a series of hyperlocal user-focused websites for UK communities with little or no news media representation. expand collapse
Beginning with a six month trial across the South West of England, the 30 sites will target towns with a population between 10,000 and 40,000 not already served by local news outlets in print or online. Developed by Associated Northcliffe Digital, the sites will run in tandem with Northcliffe Media's 'this is' network.
The new digital offerings will include features common among social networks to encourage community news generated by citizen journalists and bloggers. Users will be able to create personal profiles, network as well as blog and write the news.
"Our audience is at the core of our business and their relationship with new media is ever evolving. As a result we constantly strive to find innovative ways to engage with local communities online," said a Northcliffe Media spokesperson. "The development referred to in media reports is part of our ongoing strategy to improve the online user experience at a local level."
