Weekly series revived – with expansion onto rival’s former patch

The Wolverhampton-based Midland News Association – publisher of the Express & Star -has announced the launch of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chronicle as part of its Chronice Week series of free papers, which have hit the streets again for the first time since November.

The launch of the new title is in the wake of Reach plc’s closure of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer in August of last year.

Gary Phelps (pictured), a former editor-in-chief of the Observer, who stepped down in 2018 as part of a series of cuts by Reach, will be one of the journalists involved in the launch of the new Chronicle.

Gary, who will write a weekly column for the Chronicle, will be joined by former Observer sports editor Marr Panter, who will work as a reporter.

The Sutton Coldfield edition will be distributed to more than 24,000 homes across the area.

Last year Chronicle Week, dubbed “the UK’s biggest free weekly newspaper”, had publication suspended by MNA due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, regional publisher Newsquest has announced the creation of 50 new journalism jobs as part of its investment in its digital operation. Some of the new recruits will be assigned to newsrooms in Hereford and Worcester.

Chief executive Henry Faure Walker said: “The focus that we have placed on growing engaged local digital audiences over the last few years is paying off, with most of our sites now reaching almost 80pc of their local population.”