Newsquest Launches Weekly Newspaper For Darlington

Newsquest has launched a part-paid part-free weekly newspaper for Darlington and south west Durham.

The team behind The Northern Echo has revived a weekly sister newspaper – the Despatch – which has not been published for 31 years.

The launch is the latest in a series of print launches by local publishers in recent months. 

Iliffe Media launched the paid-for weekly title The Bishop’s Stortford Independent and last month Trinity Mirror and Newsquest both announced new paid-for titles and an increase in coverage for the town of Oldham.

Earlier this year, Newsquest launched The Warrington Post and the Christchurch Times as well as announcing the launch of another edition of The Argus

Copies of the new Despatch hit the streets of Darlington and towns across south west Durham, including Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe, and Willington on Wednesday morning, the Northern Echo reported.

The title previously served the same towns on a daily basis up to April 1986. Every Wednesday, the part-paid part-free weekly will be delivered to about 10,000 homes. Despatch also be available from retailers for 30p and free copies will be available in specially-targeted locations.

Editor Andy Richardson said: “Readers and advertisers tell us that they still value good quality newspapers and that is why we have launched the new Despatch.

“It is a bright, modern-looking newspaper packed with news, views, and pictures. It will be very community-focussed, so this will be chance to feature local events, from fundraisers to fun-runs, as well as give local people a platform to share their views, and showcase success stories from schools, businesses and sports clubs in the area.”