National Sunday Newspaper Closes After First Issue

The Planet on Sunday, which launched just four days ago, has announced it is to cease publication. Clifford Hards, the paper’s publisher, said the paper’s content did not satisfy “his own personal criteria” and because of that, he was withdrawing support with immediate effect.

“Sales of the paper were sufficient to suggest that break-even could have been established quickly in line with our original plans and we were satisfied with its distribution and circulation,” said Mr Hards. The paper, which sold around 115,000 copies, was 35,000 copies short of its 150,000 break-event target.

Mr Hards emphasised that “There are no financial difficulties and all our contractual and financial obligations will be met in full.” All staff and creditors will be paid in full.

Mr Hards expressed regret at the closure, and hoped the episode would not prove a set-back for the environmental cause; he added, “I feel it is better to withdraw than produce a publication that does not match the ideals of the environmental movement.”

Editor of the Planet on Sunday was Austin Mitchelson, a founding director of the Sunday Sport; the lead story in the paper was “Scandal over jabs cover-up”; other stories in the paper tackled from a somewhat sensationalist angle included “The scandal of how Britain’s babies are being crippled from birth by sprays and pesticides” and “When desserts can be deadly fare”.

(see Review: The Planet On Sunday for review).

Planet on Sunday: 0121 702 2525