Archant replaces regional titles with 'newszine'

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Regional newspaper publisher Archant has closed two titles with the launch of a "newszine" for the Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire region.

The new title Scene will replace the Harlow Herald and the East Herts Herald. Former Harlow Herald editor Barry Hunt will take charge.

An Archant spokesperson confirmed to Journalism.co.uk that there would be no editorial redundancies involved in the closures. The publisher has in fact recruited two extra editorial and three advertising staff for the news magazine, who will be based in Stevenage.

Four editions of the magazine will be produced with an initial print run of 55,000 copies. These will be available for free and paid-for with some targeted hand deliveries and availability via Parish Council outlets, says a release from Archant.

The new title will combine "the excitement and thrust of a newspaper with the glamour and comfort of a magazine", says Archant. A complementary website SceneFirst.co.uk has also been relaunched replacing the newspapers' previous sites.

"The impact of sister title Cambridge First - in a city which embraces innovation - has been well documented. This project is an exciting stage further, as it means the title will be available in many rural areas for the first time," says Paul Richardson, editorial director for Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, in the release.