Belfast Telegraph goes compact

Independent News & Media’s Belfast Telegraph will become a compact newspaper across all of its afternoon editions from tomorrow (March 25).

The paper, which has been printed as a broadsheet since 1870, introduced the compact format in February 2005 with a new Saturday morning edition. This was followed by the daily morning edition in March 2005. From tomorrow, all editions will be printed in the compact format.

The new style afternoon paper will feature specialist supplements including Business, Private and Public Sector Jobs, CarFinder, HomeFinder and a new 24-page sports pull-out every Monday.

The paper reported an ABC figure of 69,457 for the final six months of 2008, down 8.1% year on year.

Martin Lindsay, editor of the Belfast Telegraph, said: “Over the past year we have carried out extensive research amongst our readers to find out their likes and dislikes about the Belfast Telegraph.

“Answering a range of questions about content, format and style, the overwhelming majority of respondents gave a thumbs up for our news content, praised our features and columnists and described the paper as both informative and entertaining.

“But repeatedly the comment came back that the broadsheet size was awkward, too big to handle and that they had got used to and liked the more manageable compact format available in the morning and Saturday editions. We’ve consulted, we’ve listened and now we’re responding to deliver exactly what our readers have asked for.”