Disgruntled Commuter (see link) has drawn the world's attention to the Grudian's plans to change the size of its paper from a Broadsheet to a 'Berliner'; See below for extract from the Gerdian's website
Just over a year ago we made one of the most important decisions in the 184-year history of the Guardian and the 213-year history of the Observer," she said. "To design both papers again completely from scratch. To launch them in a new format never before seen in the UK. To build our own print centre and install the most modern presses in the newspaper industry. To position our papers as the first of a new generation of full-colour national newspapers."
The Berliner - a size that is between broadsheet and tabloid - will be unique among British newspapers. It is used by several mainland European titles, including Le Monde.
The move comes two years after the Independent changed to a tabloid size, quickly followed by the Times. Since the change, sales of both papers have bucked the industry trend downwards. In May, sales of the Independent increased by 1% compared with the year before to 263,043.
Sales of the Times increased by 5% in the year to May to 652,264. The paper, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, has also benefited from a marketing campaign that included free DVDs and money-off vouchers.
Other daily titles have lost readers, hit by increased competition from the internet and changing habits. The Guardian's sales rose 1.4% in the month to May at 372,562 but are down 4.3% in the year.
Newspapers around the world have over recent years changed shape or tried free versions of their titles in an effort to increase sales. Apparently this will be a great help to commuters on over crowded and at times oxymoronic London Transport. I am not sure if it will have any impact on the users of the no 32 Bus from Hutton to Golden Square, Berwick. Firstly users are not crammed shoulder to shoulder or even boob to boob-users exist but rarely on the same bus. Secondly the Guardienne is not read hereabouts to any great extent. Dave the Paper used to deliver two to
tout eastern .
Berwickshire. This is Daily Mail (Scottish edition) and for the intellectuals Daily Express. (Scottish ed) country with the odd patriot either taking the Scotsman or making the Berwickshire last a week. Thirdly has slipped my mind but it may have been germane-and talking about the Germanes there is a theory that when John F Kennedy famously said 'Ich bin Berliner' he was not referring to the Guerdian* but stating how he dealt with Le Monde.
* jokres about misprints in the Guardian are waring a bit thin. Blog-ed
