MPG has suspended publication of its gay and lesbian lifestyle newspaper Pink Paper, citing the economic downturn in property and recruitment advertising as a major factor in the decision. The title will continue online at www.pinkpaper.com and through its weekly email newsletter Pink Paper Xtra, and all staff will be retained. The publishers hope to start printing the newspaper again when the economy recovers and the advertising market improves.
Kim Watson, Media Director of MPG, said: “The decision to suspend fortnightly print and distribution of Pink Paper has been one of the toughest we have had to make in a long time but in order to ensure that we can continue providing a service to the LGBT community in future we have taken the decision now, rather than when the situation has worsened to a point that we would need to cease Pink Paper all together.
“We are looking forward to increasing delivery of our weekly newsletter and ensuring that our website continues to grow in its visitors and interaction. We are also glad to announce that all existing staff will remain in post to work on Pink Paper online and our other titles.”
In the most recent issue Tris Reid-Smith, Editor-In-Chief of the title, commented: “What the last few months have, unfortunately, demonstrated is that having a great readership doesn’t guarantee you enough advertising to keep going. That’s the single, stupid but unavoidable reason why we are having to suspend printing the newspaper.”
The free title was launched in 1987 and claimed a circulation of 50,000.
