A Cumbrian weekly newspaper is looking to make its own headlines after getting into profit less than six months after being bought out of administration.<\/p>\n
The 160-year-old Cumberland & Westmorland Herald was rescued from administration in February by businessman Andy Barr, saving 22 jobs.<\/p>\n
He added a second weekly Cumbrian newspaper to its portfolio by buying the Keswick Reminder in June.<\/p>\n
John Holliday, a former Sky, Bloomberg and BBC executive who was appointed managing director of both titles, said: \u201cIt\u2019s all about local names, local faces and local places. Readers want want to believe in their community, read quality parish pump content. I believe that we could go back to a time where every town has its own local newspaper.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy business philosophy is simple really: hire the best quality talent you can. That helps you make the best products. In turn you\u2019ll increase sales and increase profits. It\u2019s a virtuous circle. We have done that and there\u2019s more to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision to put the Penrith-based Cumberland & Westmorland Herald into administration was blamed on an increasing deficit in the company\u2019s defined benefits pension scheme and longstanding problems with the regional print media industry.<\/p>\n
His first decision was to increase the paper\u2019s cover price by 50% – from \u00a31 to \u00a31.50 – which saw sales drop only 2%.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur strategy is built around growth”, he said. “Anyone can cut costs but I believe the way you grow a business is through focus, differentiation and cost leadership.”<\/p>\n
Holliday, a former professional footballer with Carlisle and Mansfield, said despite the pessimism around the newspaper industry there are exciting plans for both titles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working on a new technology platform and online product,\u201d he said. \u201cMy beliefs comes from 25 years in the media. I believe that media organisations need a deep relationship with the end user, customers, viewers, listeners and readers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a deep faith in the public that there are millions of people who want high quality content \u2013 and are happy to pay for it.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rescue deal in February kept 160-year-old title alive<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":2067045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"coauthors":[81],"class_list":["post-2067044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\n