Echo to launch a Monday edition

Exeter and East Devon are to get another edition of the Express & Echo from Monday.

Priced at 50p, this new newspaper will be in addition to the current weekly Express & Echo published on a Thursday.

Express & Echo on a Monday will be packed full of the news from the weekend, all the events in pictures, plus the latest from a weekend of sport.

It will have a significant business section, and everything from executive jobs through to features along with a new look at the week ahead.

The paper is giving away a Fiat 500 as part of the launch and will be handing out 20,000 roses in the city centre and at Sandy Park this weekend.

The launch will happen in the same month that the entire office and staff move production and administration back to the city centre. It is more than three years since the paper went from daily to weekly, and the office move along with the additional publishing day is the next step in being closer to the community.

Express & Echo editor Jon-Paul Hedge said: “The Express & Echo on a Monday is born out of listening to what our readers and non-readers tell us they want. This gives us the chance to tell the stories of Exeter and East Devon differently - backed by an innovative design approach.”

With two editions, It is planned to be the definitive start to the working week for people who know and love Exeter and East Devon.

Publishing twice a week might not seem significant, but in the world of print publishing, it is quite a bold move.

At a time where people are changing the way they consume news, the Express & Echo is publishing in print more often. But we think Exeter is different, and we know Exeter deserves more. Some very special offers are being lined up for the first edition along with more stories, more memories, and bringing the best of Exeter and East Devon directly to the public.

Devon weeklies Publisher Michelle Pugh said: “Our research and reader feedback has told us a Monday Express & Echo could be a wonderful addition to our newspaper portfolio. This launch has created a real buzz in the newsroom and shows Local World is willing to invest in a new print product.”

It comes as the Echo had a record breaking January online, topping 3million page views for the first time in a single month.