Newsquest to close its Citizen series
Newsquest have announced that its Citizen series of free weekly papers are to close.
The free papers in Blackpool, Preston and Lancaster will close, while its Chorley edition will move to Blackburn. The total restructure is likely to result in the loss of eleven editorial staff as well as risks to ad sales positions.
Gannett, the American owners of Newsquest, is making the move as part of its drastic cutbacks to its regional newspaper publishing operation in the north-west of England.
The paper’s latest circulation and readership figures are below.
| Citizen Series Circulation and Readership | ||
| Title Name | ABC | JICREG |
| Blackpool Citizen | 65,385 | 90,605 |
| Lancaster & Morecambe Citizen Series | 47,341 | 70,023 |
| Preston & Leyland Citizen | 66,605 | 97,854 |
| Source: MediaTel.co.uk/ABC Jan-Jun 08/JICREG period release Oct 08 | ||
In October 2008, Newsquest reported a 23.6% year on year fall in its ad revenue in Q3 (see Newsquest Ad Revenue Falls By 24%).
Newsquest: 01932 821 212 www.newsquest.co.uk