MEN to reinvent Manchester Confidential
Having closed Manchester listings magazine City Life at the end of 2005, the Manchester Evening News is to reinvent the title – whose brand was given to the paper’s existing entertainment supplement and a local TV programme – as an online magazine… like Manchester Confidential, perhaps.
A rare new media success story, Manchester Confidential has developed a unique voice and loyal readership – even if it seems a little heavy on the advertorial – occasionally outflanking the Evening News itself. However, it may well struggle against an aggressive competitor cross promoted in the MEN and on community TV.
But let’s hope Man Con does manage to face down the competition; it makes for a small island of independence in the midst of Guardian Media Group’s local monopoly.
Comments (3 comments)
Stephen,
My only quibble with Manchester Confidential and it quite a significant one is that unless you pay you do not get in.
The MEN is editorially driven, which makes my job possible.
Am I wrong? Do Manchester Confidential actually include not paid for copy?
Rob
Rob Artisan / May 5th, 2008, 1:04 pm / #
Man Con’s editor answers many of your concerns here.
The site seems to contain far more reviews than the MEN, although that’s its specialism, and insists these aren’t paid for. And they certianly don’t read like advertorials.
The new column by Graham Stringer adds some gravitas.
Stephen Newton / May 7th, 2008, 5:22 pm / #
Rob from Artisan, that is such an old argument. Please look at any of our by-lined food, TV, film, art, architecture, theatre, news and comment pieces since Christmas - or take a longer time frame than that - and tell me which ones were paid for? The answer is none of them on the Manchester Confidential site. Not one. I hope you re-assess your opinion of us. We’re trying to produce a genuine alternative voice to the Guardian Media Group.
As for facing down the opposition Stephen - and thanks for the kind words - I’m sure we won’t need to but can happily exist alongside each other.
Jonathan Schofield - editor / May 18th, 2008, 7:57 pm / #
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