The Drum celebrates the UK’s smallest daily newspapers

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By Gillian West, Social media manager

August 31, 2012 | 5 min read

Following this week’s re-launch of local newspaper, Paisley Daily Express, The Drum takes a look at the UK’s smallest local newspapers. All with circulations of under 14,000* these papers continue to go toe-to-toe with large national papers to bring regional news to their local audiences on a daily basis.

*According to most recent 2012 ABC figures

NB. The Scarborough Evening News with ABC figures of 9,914 has not been included since being made weekly in May 2012.

1. Greenock Telegraph

The Greenock Telegraph serves the Inverclyde Council area – containing the towns of Gourock, Greenock and Port Glasgow. Founded in 1857 the paper was originally based in Charles Street, Greenock which was destroyed during the Greenock Blitz. The paper is now printed in Crawfurd Street by the Clyde and Forth Press who own a range of local titles in Central Scotland, and a few titles in the south of England. 2012 ABC's suggest a circulation of 13,470.

2. Worcester News

The Worcester News, formerly known as Worcester Evening News, is published Monday-Saturday by the Newsquest Media Group. Wednesday’s edition carries a substantial jobs section, Thursday covers property, and Friday contains Motoring news. Published from offices in Worcester, 2012 ABC’s show a circulation of 13,305.

3. Barrow Northwest Evening Mail

Based within Barrow-in-Furness the Barrow Northwest Evening Mail covers local news from South Lakes and Furness, Barrow, Dalton, Ulverston, Grange-Over-Sands, Windermere and Millom, as well as notable stories from neighbouring Kendal and Copeland. The tabloid style paper has four editions – Barrow Early, Barrow Late Final, Ulverston, and South Lakes and Millom. The editions only differ in their front-page and page-six content. The publication is owned by Furness Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Carlisle based media company, CN Group Limited, 2012 ABC’s show a circulation of 12,884.

4. = Oldham Evening Chronicle

The Oldham Evening Chronicle serves the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester. The paper has two sister editions, The Oldham Extra and The Saddleworth Extra which are published on the first Thursday of the month. The newspaper is owned by the Hirst Kidd and Rennie group with 2012 ABC’s showing a circulation of 12,789.

4. = Hartlepool Mail

The Hartlepool Mail was founded in 1877 as the Northern Daily Mail; the newspaper is owned by the Johnston Press and is printed in near-by Sunderland. In July 2012 most of the newspapers staff relocated to be based within the Sunderland Echo’s headquarters. 2012 ABC’s indicate a circulation of 12,789.

6. Burton Mail

Formerly known as the Burton Daily Mail, the Burton Mail carries news from Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and Northwest Leicestershire. It is the only local paid-for newspaper in Burton-on-Trent and has been running for more than a century. The newspaper is part of Staffordshire Newspapers Limited which prints two daily newspapers, five weekly newspapers, and a number of magazines. The newspaper is printed from Cambridge Newspaper Limited’s Milton base. 2012 ABC’s show a circulation of 11,612.

7. Carlisle News and Star - East and West

Known previously as the Evening News and Star and Cumberland Evening News, the local newspapers serve the East and West sides of Carlisle and surrounding areas. The papers are part of locally owned CN Group Limited, and ABC’s show an East circulation of 11,271 and West circulation of 4,302.

8. Paisley Daily Express

The local newspaper for Renfrewshire rebranded and re-launched this week with a major design overhaul and new cover price. Covering local news across Renfrewshire the Media Scotland-owned publication also handles humanitarian news, classified ads, imitations, church news, crosswords, wedding and school photos, and sport (namely local football club St Mirren). The paper relocated this year from Paisley to Media Scotland’s headquarters in Glasgow and is part of Trinity Mirror. 2012 ABC’s (prior to re-launch) show a circulation of 6,887.

9. Wigan Evening Post

Known previously as the Wigan Evening Post and Chronicle the Wigan Evening Post covers the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. The newspaper is part of the Johnston Press group and is printed Monday-Saturday. The paper has two free sister papers, the St Helens Reporter and the Leigh Reporter which are published once a week alongside the Wigan Reporter and weekly paid-for Wigan Observer. 2012 ABC’s show a circulation of 6,213.

10. Doncaster Star

The Star is marketed in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire. The Doncaster district edition is owned by the Johnston Press and 2012 ABC’s show a circulation of 1,931.

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