Pa. Paper Is First in U.S. to Publish Both Broadsheet and Compact

By: E&P Staff Following the lead of The Times of London and other newspapers abroad, The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa., last week became the first U.S. newspaper to publish both broadsheet and compact editions. The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times each publish weekday tabs editions aimed at younger readers.

The new compact edition in Harrisburg, called simply The Patriot, reprints "the most compelling local and national news stories" for readers on the go, the Patriot-News said in a statement.

"The one-size-fits-all model is no more ideal for newspapers in today's marketplace than it is for magazines or cars or spaghetti sauce," John Kirkpatrick, editor and publisher of the Patriot-News, said in a statement. "You can buy 10 different flavors of a Hershey's Kiss, but only one version of the daily newspaper. Over and over, we heard time-starved consumers say they would value a compact, condensed version of the Patriot-News."

Focus groups revealed that some occasional readers of the broadsheet wanted to keep up with the news but didn't have the time. The Patriot is designed to fill that need for "women, young adults, and others who are too busy -- working, raising families, participating in activities -- to read the traditional Patriot-News," the statement read. The focus groups responded positively.

In addition to paring down the broadsheet for the Patriot, news is color-coded for easy navigation and features pullout sections including Home & Garden and a weekly entertainment guide. The classified section is a folded-over broadsheet.

The new paper is available for home delivery or wherever the broadsheet is for sale.