London Weekly
Encyclopedia
The London Weekly was a free newspaper that was first published in London
on February 5, 2010. It had launched its website on 20 December 2009.
Plans for the London Weekly were announced shortly after the two established London free newspapers -- News International
's thelondonpaper
and Associated Newspapers
-owned London Lite
-- ceased publication and the new ownership of the London Evening Standard
had announced plans to switch to free distribution, and early reports about the venture contextualised it as a serious competitor to the Standard.
Lack of clarity about the London Weekly's ownership and staffing, along with criticism of its standards of design and content, raised speculation that the publication is part of an elaborate publicity stunt or hoax
.. It emerged, however, that the newspaper was genuine, albeit with limited staffing. As of October 2011 the paper had ceased publishing; its website has not been updated since July 2011.
Former footballer Tony Woodcock
appeared on ITV
London News as a spokesperson for the paper, and was described on its website as a co-founder of Global Publishing Group. In addition to Woodcock, four other joint partners are named the paper's website: David Donnovan, Howard Adams, Geoffery Wright and Graham Vines.
Prior to the launch, GPG also announced ambitious plans for online television and radio stations, an awards ceremony, and further free newspaper launches in several other British cities.
The paper is not registered with the Press Complaints Commission
.
. Robertson later said she had had stood down as editor and the paper told journalists that the new editor was one Alan Mills. No editor is named on the paper's masthead, with Mills described as "Deputy Managing Editor".
Mills told a media trade publication that the paper had "about nine or ten" writers working for it on a freelance basis.
Other senior staff members listed in the paper's masthead are: Dominic Gardener, Lisa Ferguson, Neil Harris and Steve Campbell. Tessa Riley and Ken Broker are described as "editors-at-large".
.
One company that had agreed a promotion with The London Weekly was given an address shared by Invincible Media Group.
and the launch edition's lead story was nearly identical to a press release that had issued earlier in the week by rugby club London Wasps
.
Executives at other London newspapers, including the Evening Standard
, were reportedly unconcerned about the London Weekly as a commercial competitor.
and railway stations. Current figures are not known.
The publishers have declined to reveal the printers contracted to produce the newspaper.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on February 5, 2010. It had launched its website on 20 December 2009.
Plans for the London Weekly were announced shortly after the two established London free newspapers -- News International
News International
News International Ltd is the United Kingdom newspaper publishing division of News Corporation. Until June 2002, it was called News International plc....
's thelondonpaper
Thelondonpaper
The London Paper was a free daily newspaper, published by NI Free Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International...
and Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers
Associated Newspapers is a large national newspaper publisher in the UK, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust. The group was established in 1905 and is currently based at Northcliffe House in Kensington...
-owned London Lite
London Lite
London Lite was the trading name of a British free daily newspaper, published by Associated Newspapers , and now defunct. It was available Monday to Friday afternoons and evenings from street distributors in Central London only...
-- ceased publication and the new ownership of the London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
had announced plans to switch to free distribution, and early reports about the venture contextualised it as a serious competitor to the Standard.
Lack of clarity about the London Weekly's ownership and staffing, along with criticism of its standards of design and content, raised speculation that the publication is part of an elaborate publicity stunt or hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
.. It emerged, however, that the newspaper was genuine, albeit with limited staffing. As of October 2011 the paper had ceased publishing; its website has not been updated since July 2011.
Ownership
The London Weekly is published by Global Publishing Group, a partnership between five private investors. Global Publishing Group said it had raised £10.5 million to finance the launch.Former footballer Tony Woodcock
Tony Woodcock
Anthony Stewart "Tony" Woodcock is a retired English international footballer who played professionally in both England and Germany as a striker. He won the European Cup in 1979 with Nottingham Forest.-Early career:...
appeared on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
London News as a spokesperson for the paper, and was described on its website as a co-founder of Global Publishing Group. In addition to Woodcock, four other joint partners are named the paper's website: David Donnovan, Howard Adams, Geoffery Wright and Graham Vines.
Prior to the launch, GPG also announced ambitious plans for online television and radio stations, an awards ceremony, and further free newspaper launches in several other British cities.
The paper is not registered with the Press Complaints Commission
Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
.
Staff
In late 2009, the paper launched a website that listed about 50 contributors. The editor of the paper was initially named as Roisin Robertson, formerly chief reporter of the Chislehurst Times and a former Parliamentary candidate for the Green Party (UK)Green Party (UK)
The Green Party was a Green political party in the United Kingdom. It has been succeeded by three political parties:* the Green Party of England and Wales* the Green Party in Northern Ireland* the Scottish Green Party- PEOPLE, 1973–1975 :...
. Robertson later said she had had stood down as editor and the paper told journalists that the new editor was one Alan Mills. No editor is named on the paper's masthead, with Mills described as "Deputy Managing Editor".
Mills told a media trade publication that the paper had "about nine or ten" writers working for it on a freelance basis.
Other senior staff members listed in the paper's masthead are: Dominic Gardener, Lisa Ferguson, Neil Harris and Steve Campbell. Tessa Riley and Ken Broker are described as "editors-at-large".
Links to Invincible Media Group
Several of the contributors named on the London Weekly website appear to have links to Invincible Media Group, an umbrella name for the business interests of self-styled serial entertainment entrepreneur Jordan KensingtonJordan Kensington
Jordan Kensington is an entrepreneur, artist, songwriter, Television and radio presenter best known for the brand Invincible and as the founder of the Urban Music Awards an awards show celebrating the achievement of hip hop, R&B, soul and jazz music artists in six countries annually.His business...
.
One company that had agreed a promotion with The London Weekly was given an address shared by Invincible Media Group.
Response to early issues
The launch edition of the London Weekly was heavily criticised by readers and media insiders. Among many gaffes, the front page included a prominent mis-spelling of the name of cricketer Phil TufnellPhil Tufnell
Philip Clive Roderick Tufnell is a former English cricketer turned television personality. A slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler, "Tuffers" as he was known played 42 Tests and 20 One Day International matches for England, as well as playing for Middlesex from 1986 to 2002...
and the launch edition's lead story was nearly identical to a press release that had issued earlier in the week by rugby club London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
.
Executives at other London newspapers, including the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, were reportedly unconcerned about the London Weekly as a commercial competitor.
Distribution
Prior to launch, the publishers claimed that 250,000 copies would be distributed on Friday and Saturday mornings at London UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
and railway stations. Current figures are not known.
The publishers have declined to reveal the printers contracted to produce the newspaper.
External links
- thelondonweekly.co.uk Official website for London Weekly