The i-deal

From the paper which was the first to steer away from political ties and which ended the era of the broadsheet only 'quality', comes the first new UK-wide national newspaper in decades.

i from the Independent is a brave attempt from a loss making newspaper to try and attract a new readership.

So I rushed out to buy my copy for 20p today (just in case it sold out).

The bad news (for the owners) is that it wasn't sold out. The good news is that it's a great idea.

Starting with the front page - i's lead is clever. House price crisis. Designed not only to appeal to core Guardian / Independent readers, but also steal from those paying full price for a 'mid market' Express / Mail.

The tribute to Andy Holmes and the provocative 'is kids TV gay' debate will also appeal to the more 'mid market' audience.

So, assuming i doesn't retreat into the Independent's enviro-concept front pages and continues to set a similar populist course, the content is there (enough to satisfy the commuter, but not overwhelm) and the price feels right.

And the strategy is potentially interesting.  It has three main selling points:
- It's a lightweight quality paper for those who have deserted newspapers for the Internet
- It's a replacement Metro in commuter areas - which will do more than reprint the previous evening's Standard
- Finally, and most interestingly, it's a real rival to the lucrative mid market audience.

And good luck to it.

Twanscript: Royals and the media

Twanscript (is that a permissible Twitter-word?) from the Republic debate The Royal PR Machine with Richard Palmer, royal correspondent of the Daily Express and Emily Hill, Evening Standard journalist and Guardian commentator.

Here are the pick of the comments from the debate (all have been shortened due to Twitter use and are comments made at the debate by others).  For a full list of the Tweets I sent, search #royalmedia.

'Concerted campaign to prevent taking pictures of royals' - eve standard
 
Would people be so keen on royals if heir was a cross between Charles + Camilla?

Queen’s press officer known as Samantha the panther

Express corr never been allowed direct conversation with Charles

My right to know stops where the detectives we pay for's knowledge stops - Express

Press association under pressure corporately to toe royal line

Charles will look to set up Kings Conferences on issues

Royals using courts to deny right to know, or even release pics without approval

Abuse of civil lists makes mp expenses look like peanuts. Freedom of Information Act requests denied

9 times out of 10 royals take train to somewhere and fly back

Conservative and Labour dodging discussion on civil list

Charles will talk to his plants but won't dig them up - Emily Hill

Royals using Kate Middleton to take legal action to see how far they can push the courts
 
That it's a taboo to criticise the queen is a disgrace - @RepublicStaff

And the final subject - how advertisers would react to an anti-monarchy media will be a future blog!

Papers and the BNP

Earlier today journalism.co.uk highlighted that some regional press are now accepting advertising from the fascist BNP. It seems just to be Newsquest's online titles, but as Jon Slattery points out, given they have bans on adult sex advertising, you'd think they'd take a moral stand on this!

So earlier on I suggested a boycott of Newsquest titles... if people threaten to boycott all their titles maybe the management will take notice.

Shame I don't have any control over ad budgets, but it will be interesting to see if brands look to pull other advertising like they did to Facebook a few months ago.