Warning: include(/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/zone_nav/log/previous.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2006/May/04/596/index.php on line 31
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/zone_nav/log/previous.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2006/May/04/596/index.php on line 31
Warning: include(/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/intro_quote/index.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2006/May/04/596/index.php on line 39
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/inc/main/content/intro_quote/index.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2006/May/04/596/index.php on line 39
Warning: include(/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/apps/rotation/graphics/common/tn/index.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2006/May/04/596/index.php on line 42
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/apps/rotation/graphics/common/tn/index.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /mnt/local/home/mediasnackers/phatgnat.com/log/2006/May/04/596/index.php on line 42
First News—a children's tabloid
(UK) I had to smile when I read this morning that Piers Morgan was looking to launch a 24-page tabloid-style newspaper for the 9-12 market (tween). The focus will be apparently on celebrity columnists like Jamie Oliver, who will write on food, Sir Richard Branson to encourage tomorrow's entrepreneurs and David Beckham will contribute to the sports pages (I doubt these people have already signed up).
Here's the speel from the horses mouth:
Almost every single person we've spoken to has said yes. Everyone says immediately, 'What a great idea'.' It's obviously also a massively safe and appealing environment for celebrities, public figures and advertisers to appear in.
The biggest challenge facing newspapers is how you properly integrate print and online versions. We believe the two have to work hand-in-hand and promote each other. But the actual fun for kids will be to have their own newspaper.
This is a very good thing for the industry. If we can persuade people of nine, 10, 11, 12 to get into the habit of buying a newspaper that has to be good for the health of the industry when we all know there's a massive problem in getting young people to buy newspapers. It's got to be good for further sales of newspapers, it has to be.
I predict a big backlash from the youth and public sector about this with arguments such as 'do 9-12 year olds really need to be fed tabloid-style celebrity news' etc.
I'm a little more optimistic. I just think it won't work because the market isn't there. Young people's interest are not in print anymore and it's a business model with no foundation.
UPDATE: Check out the cover of the first edition and the . There's also loads of pictures of the celebrity launch with a surprising lack of yuong people anywhere to be seen.
Filed by DK on May 4 2006
You're viewing 'First News—a children's tabloid', an entry in our 'news, comment, opinion, speculation and other short-form info…' (b)log. You may also explore current and other entries, or search.