Metro Plans Recruitment Magazine For Women
Associated Newspapers is attempting to corner the the secretarial recruitment market with the launch of new women’s weekly magazine with Metro branding to be distributed free to readers from January.
The new magazine will launch with an initial print run of 50,000 and will hit the streets on Monday mornings. The title is understood to be aimed at women aged 20-35, and although a name has yet to be finalised, it is known that the magazine will feature Metro branding.
Doug Read, executive director of Metro, stated: “It’s a recruitment magazine aimed at women aged 20-35, in secretarial, admin and PA roles. It’s recruitment first that we’re doing but it will then happen to have great features on fashion, entertainment and jobs, as well as features and articles on successful businesswomen, but it’s not a Metro Marie Claire.”
Metro launched as the UK’s biggest free-sheet newspaper back in 1999, catering for commuters with a easily digestible compact format. It has enjoyed success ever since and is fast approaching distribution of one million, according to the latest official ABC figures.
The new magazine represents an obvious expansion of Metro to secure continued success amid increased tension in the free-sheet market. Richard Desmond is understood to be considering a relaunch for the Daily Express as a free daily, a move which could potentially damage Metro‘s distribution (see Desmond Ponders Relaunching Express As Free-Sheet).
Desmond’s Express Newspapers has also been developing an evening free-sheet for the London area since the beginning of last year, reportedly naming the title London i. A successful launch for both a free-sheet Express and London i could see Desmond dominate the market at both ends of a commuter’s day (see Desmond Eyes New Name For Planned London Free-Sheet).
However, while Doug Read denied recent reports that Metro is planning to launch a property title, Associated Newspapers is understood to be considering an afternoon edition of the Evening Standard in a bid to strengthen its position in the capital ahead of Desmond’s new title. Reports suggest that the so-called Standard Lite will launch in November with fewer pages than the paid-for edition (see Standard Considers Launching Afternoon Free-Sheet).
The Daily Mail & General Trust: 020 7938 6747 www.dmgt.co.uk
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