Gap in the market for left of centre mid-range newspaper

[Elyalbert]

It strikes me that there is a gap in the market for a new mid-range newspaper which is left of centre. At the moment only The Guardian provides a more pro Labour angle and a large proportion of people prefer their newspapers to be tabloid-size and to include entertainment and lifestyle stories (and pictures) as well as covering serious news. At the moment these people are restricted to newspapers like the Daily Express and the Daily Mail which seem to be getting more rabidly anti-Labour by the day. Seriously, the Mail’s coverage of the Government is starting to remind me of the way they bullied Meghan Markle before she left. I believe a left of centre, mid range, tabloid sized newspaper would be good for the country because it would provide a counter balance to the relentless negativity about what Labour are trying to do to a wider demographic. I know newspapers are being overtaken by online news providers but surely there is some way a new paper and online news outlet could be brought into being? Am I wrong?

The Express sells about 136,000 and the Mail 682,000 - acc the Press gazette latest figures.

I suspect the Mail sells that many bc it is competitively priced compared to the rest and based on how much actual paper you get. I mean I hate it passionately but it's cheap and there's a lot of it.

The next best-selling paper after the Mail and MoS is the Mirror at about a third of the Mail's circulation. 200,000 is nothing, No money at all in newspapers. It's sad for me as my early life was in print media.

pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/most-popular-newspapers-uk-abc-monthly-circulation-figures-2/

(Sorry to derail OP) - why do they persevere with print if only 200k are sold? Do they make a profit still?

I shouldn’t be surprised that print figures are low because the only time I see newspapers being bought now is on episodes of things filmed 15+ years ago.

Okay so if you're talking about websites rather than print publishing then there's the bbc or plenty of other news sources. But actual newspaper buyers aren't waiting to be poached. People buy the Mail or the Express because they like them. You very much misunderstand their mindset if you think they're putting up with it until a less vile mid-market title lures them away.

They still have a lot of influence that rich and powerful owners enjoy having. Look at how they're used to set the agenda, to orchestrate the political agenda, to get rid of the bbc or whoever they disagree with. It's not purely for profit.

I actually knew a couple of Daily Mail readers who could easily have been poached by a less vile mid-market title if they thought it was as entertaining and fun to read. They weren’t reading the Mail for its political views at all. The more they read the more right wing they became about some issues, but they couldn’t see how their views were being influenced by the Daily Mail. I’m certain they could have been just as easily influenced in a different political direction by a left leaning version of the Mail. Admittedly this is all a bit of a moot point as they’re both dead now, but I would be surprised if the owners of the Daily Mail are sitting back saying “All our readers are old, but let’s not do anything about this.” Surely they are trying to lure younger people in? Driving people towards towards their website? So this is what a competitor could also try to do.

They weren’t reading the Mail for its political views at all.

Well no it's for the salacious gossipy stuff and 'femail' health/bitchy feelbad stuff and all the rest that has appealed to a certain streak of human nature in most people since forever. The politics is in there anyway and is made more palatable by the fun stuff and gradually it seeps into people's worldviews. Hate the Mail as much as one wants, it knows its audience and it's good/evil at what it does.

Balls. Over 60s and I'd agree with you.

I like the Byline Times - it's online and you can buy print copies too. Very interesting articles.

The Byline Times looks good, thanks. I also think it would be good if someone produced a more mid range version of it - with celebrity news/royal stories/health stuff as well as serious news (like the Daily Mail) but more left leaning or at least more politically balanced.

I just read the Times. They criticise everyone.

It’s not balls. The age at which voters now turn right is 70 and most people in their 60s are still working. I anticipate print media being pretty much extinct in a decade’s time.

Christ so do l. In 60, Dh is 65. Never buy a newspaper, and never voted Tory.

It’s the over 70’s. All the over 60’s l know went to Rock against Racism gigs or CND marches.

@Elyalbert

'The Byline Times looks good, thanks. I also think it would be good if someone produced a more mid range version of it - with celebrity news/royal stories/health stuff as well as serious news (like the Daily Mail) but more left leaning or at least more politically balanced.'
I agree with you. I've often wondered why the big unions don't have a more balanced, gossipy version of the Daily Fail.

It's still quite good, but stupid on the trans issue

Newspapers used to sell millions a day. Definitely no room for another one. Current ones angle towards who buys them. Older people. If the young left want one, they need to fund it.