'Cayman Net News' Redesigns, Reformats

Cayman Net News reports it will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its weekly print edition with a new look starting June 4.

To be stitiched and with a glossy cover, the newspaper, based in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, will adopt the look of a news magazine and a "short tab" format instead of its current log tab.

"After I discovered that the short tab is now preferred by more readers in advanced countries and is a much more effective presentation for advertising," Editor and Publisher Desmond Seales wrote, "it just made sense to me to make the change. It's easier for readers to handle, plus advertisers like the idea that their ads cannot be lost at the bottom of the news page."

Launched as an Internet publication in 1999, the newspaper ran as a long tab until 2005, then appeared as a broadsheet size for almost three years.

Its special sections have targeted teens, television, business, lifestyles, real estate, with several glossy sections for hurricane and holiday seasons. The company also has published coffee-table books, including one celebrating the Cayman Islands' 500th anniversary.

Because printing in Miami has sometimes caused delays, Seales plans are to bring a press to the island. "The aim is to eventually print here to avoid the headaches and costs of printing overseas," he said. "Our printers have been good, but economics dictate that we must eventually make this plunge."

As part of his anniversary, Seales also announced lower advertising rates through the summer, as well as reduced newsstand prices. On-island distribution was to be "enhanced" through controlled circulation to certain high-traffic businesses.