Three Conn. Papers Switch to Tabloid, Shift Target Audiences

Posted Wednesday, March 15, 2006 12:00 am

By: Nekoro Gomes Connecticut newspapers The Bristol Press, The Middletown Press, and The Herald of New Britain will switch to tabloid format beginning May 1, publishers Marc Romanow and William Sheedy said yesterday in a statement.

The three newspapers also will receive other feature changes, including expanded community-event and sports sections in the print version and added interactive features for online readers.

The new tabloid format, interactive online features, and expanded local coverage was inspired by suggestions from local readers and advertisers. The changes are especially aimed at young readers and busy families, according to Romanow and Sheedy.

Matt Pepin, a veteran editor at several newspapers in the state, has been brought in by parent newspaper group the Journal Register Company as an executive editor to oversee the redesign project.

Pepin served as a sports editor at the New Haven Register before joining the Journal Register Company in 1992. Pepin is encouraging more feedback from readers and advertisers in implementing the added features.

In addition to the Connecticut papers, the New Jersey-based Journal Register Company also owns 24 other U.S. newspapers in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The company also owns the employment search Web site, JobsInTheUS.com, and PowerOne Media LLC, an online solutions company.

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Three Conn. Papers Switch to Tabloid, Shift Target Audiences

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