How To start a local paper ??

MiciG91

I was thinking of starting up a local paper.Theres already 2 papers in the area.But in both papers there is a lack off sport coverage and i think i would have a big market.I've heard countless people complain about it so its only a matter off time before ones setup.

What i want to know is how would i go about doing this ? How much money would i need etc ??

Any help would be greatly appreciated :pac:

antoinolachtnai

Really, do the numbers. How much do you think you can get in in ads every year. Then subtract the minimum amount it would require to do the standard of editorial you need and to actually print and distribute. You will probably get a negative number.

If you really think it's a good idea, best thing would be to buy one of the existing papers. You would probably get one or other for a good price.

The newspaper business is generally considered to be in terminal decline.

conolan

Run a mile. Advertising is very hard to sell and you have two experienced competitors. Unless you are wealthy and foolish with a big ego to satisfy stay away.

Or buy an existing, at least you might suffer less pain as your money drains away.

blue4ever

massive cost to entry in print publishing - printing, distribution, production etc etc. It's not something you'd do with a huge amount of research

Cianos

You could start off by doing a dedicated sports paper if you feel there is a definite gap and a want for it. That'd mean you have a clear cut position, so you won't actually be competing with the other two papers. It'd also mean lower costs as you wouldn't have to bother with all the non sports news. But as others say it'd have to moreso be driven by a passion rather than the prospect of big business.

MidlandsM

Lots of new newspaper groups folded recently, like the voice newspaper group set up by an ex sunday world guy - you'd be nutz to think you'll win out there in a depressed market with no newspaper business experience.

MiciG91

Cianos wrote: »

You could start off by doing a dedicated sports paper if you feel there is a definite gap and a want for it. That'd mean you have a clear cut position, so you won't actually be competing with the other two papers. It'd also mean lower costs as you wouldn't have to bother with all the non sports news. But as others say it'd have to moreso be driven by a passion rather than the prospect of big business.

Exactly the other papers sell around 15,000 copies a week and there is a gap in the market.High entry costs and lack off experience are all thats holding me back.

I'm going to do a bit more research before i do anything but there is a gap in the market and i'm very passionate about it.

blue4ever

how many papers compete in that local market?

MiciG91

blue4ever wrote: »

how many papers compete in that local market?

2 but there is very little sports coverage.And sports is huge in the area i would be looking to sell as much as the other two papers.

MidlandsM

MiciG91 wrote: »

2 but there is very little sports coverage.And sports is huge in the area i would be looking to sell as much as the other two papers.

I doubt you would as a sports paper is going to appeal to a male demo (more or less), therefore greatly reducing you're available market immediately.

Also, a massive factor in local media is Heritage. People are slow to take a new paper to their heart and purchase it every week.

MrMatisse

Use this software here

http://www.newspaperclub.co.uk/

If you can make a 12 page paper with one page of classified ads and get rid of a few copies then go from there.

And good luck, To me it seems like a long road, but if you reckon you could do it then give the above a go at least.

Penisland

MiciG91 wrote: »

2 but there is very little sports coverage.And sports is huge in the area i would be looking to sell as much as the other two papers.

Why sell something when you can give it away for free..............

Southsider1

Most of the Johnson Press titles are for sale (and have been for quite a while!?) so they may be worth talking to. If you intend going from scratch you can get printed by the INM at their new print works in Citywest. And I'm sure some of the Provincials will print for you too. As stated above you're pociking a very tough business to get into. Many well established companies with respected titles are struggling badly. Also ask yourself why your local papers aren't doing greater sports coverage....

DubTony

My personal advice is to stay away from this business. The newsprint business is dying slowly, but it's definitely dying. Sports news is primarily obtained from the TV and the internet these days and most people search specifically for the information they want. I'd also believe that a local sports newspaper will not carry enough news or have enough interest to make it attractive to advertisers.

But hey, that's just my opinion. I was wrong about something else once.

If you do go ahead with it, expect to spend a (not so) small fortune on marketing and distribution. Just dumping 30 or 40 copies into every shop in the area won't cut it I'm afraid.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0325/1224267005599.html

DubTony

My personal advice is to stay away from this business. The newsprint business is dying slowly, but it's definitely dying. Sports news is primarily obtained from the TV and the internet these days and most people search specifically for the information they want. I'd also believe that a local sports newspaper will not carry enough news or have enough interest to make it attractive to advertisers.

But hey, that's just my opinion. I was wrong about something else once.

If you do go ahead with it, expect to spend a (not so) small fortune on marketing and distribution. Just dumping 30 or 40 copies into every shop in the area won't cut it I'm afraid.

INM sells UK titles for £1
from The Irish Times

IRE60

Southsider1 wrote: »

Most of the Johnson Press titles are for sale (and have been for quite a while!?) so they may be worth talking to. If you intend going from scratch you can get printed by the INM at their new print works in Citywest. And I'm sure some of the Provincials will print for you too. As stated above you're pociking a very tough business to get into. Many well established companies with respected titles are struggling badly. Also ask yourself why your local papers aren't doing greater sports coverage....

were! Decided to hold on to them as they didn't get the asking price or anything near it. Spend nearly €1m on the process of trying to sell them