First slimline issue of The Guardian hits news stands with reconfigured masthead
The Guardian has unveiled its long-awaited tabloid transformation this morning with the launch of its first edition in compact form, complete with a new masthead and accompanying overhaul for its digital editions.
Slimline Guardian hits newsstands with reconfigured masthead
More than just an aesthetic refresh, the changes have been spurred by Guardian Media Group’s overriding need to eke out substantial savings from its operational costs as part of efforts to stem further losses by April 2019.
It is hoped that the shrunken paper will save the business millions of pounds each year as part of an outsourcing of printing and distribution to Trinity Mirror, which will produce the new look title in Scotland.
Individual sections and supplements are included in the universal revamp which has seen the editorial team take the time to introduce a number of improvements including a prioritization of news in the main section with sport starting from the back page.
More excitingly, a new pull-out journal will feature in each weekday edition which pulls together long-reads, letters and obituaries alongside a newly ‘effervescent’ G2 arts magazine.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media, commented: “Since we announced our plans to change format seven months ago, it’s been an exhilarating period of creativity, imagination and focus, and I’m thrilled with the result: a new paper that feels bold, striking and beautiful, and still unmistakably The Guardian. It has also been a fantastic opportunity to redesign our website and apps. The new Guardian will be a space for big ideas, for debate, for clear thinking and new perspectives.”
The Observer will follow suit with its own tabloid relaunch on 21 January.
The Guardian has found success in recent years in encouraging its readership of 150m monthly unique browsers to voluntarily pay for content with 800,000 now making monthly payments under its membership scheme.