Alma Media's northern newspapers shifted to reader-friendly tabloid format

17 januari 2011 Alma Media Corporation   Press release   January 17, 2011 at 11.00 ALMA MEDIA'S NORTHERN NEWSPAPERS SHIFTED TO READER-FRIENDLY TABLOID FORMAT Lapin Kansa, Kainuun Sanomat ja Pohjolan Sanomat - the regional newspapers published by Alma Media's subsidiary Pohjois-Suomen Media Oy - have renewed their formats. As of today, the newspapers are in tabloid format instead of the earlier broadsheet. The size of a tabloid page is 254 x 365 millimetres and the format has been used in Finland for instance by Kauppalehti and Iltalehti. Many newspapers in Sweden have appeared in tabloid format for long. - Besides the format change, we made simultaneously several other renewals. Lapin Kansa, Kainuun Sanomat and Pohjolan Sanomat further intensify their cooperation. From now on, the newspapers not only have their own local newsrooms, but also a joint newsroom that produces and coordinates the content shared by the papers. This organisational model enables efficient use of resources and better focus on local news and issues. I consider tabloid is much more reader-friendly than our previous size, says Mr Antti Kokkonen, Editor-in- Chief of Lapin Kansa and a member of the steering group of the renewal project. Journalism is also different in tabloid format. The storytelling is very much to-the-point, and locality is even higher on the journalistic agenda than before. Lapin Kansa, Kainuun Sanomat and Pohjolan Sanomat will continue to ensure that the voice of Lapland and Kainuu region will be heard. The objective of the renewal is not only to serve better the current readers of the papers, but also attract new subscribers. - The circulation trend line of the Finnish subscription-based newspapers is in decline, which holds true for us, too. By producing reader-friendly, useful and experiential newspapers I am confident that we can at least slow down this decline, says Mr Matti Ilmivalta, Managing Director of Pohjois-Suomen Media Oy. - Considering the feedback we have received from our advertising customers, our expectations are on a positive side. It is often said that transformation to tabloid leads to lower advertising revenues, but we see no signals of this kind of development, Mr Ilmivalta continues. Pohjois-Suomen Media Oy publishes three regional papers - Lapin Kansa, Pohjolan Sanomat and Kainuun Sanomat - and five local or city papers. The company employs in total appr. 220 persons in Lapland and Kainuu regions. For further information, please contact: Matti Ilmivalta, Managing Director, Pohjois-Suomen Media Oy, tel. +358 10 665 7861 Antti Kokkonen, Editor-in-Chief, Lapin Kansa, tel. +358 10 665 7875 Alma Media in brief Alma Media is a dynamic media company whose best-known products are Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com. Alma Media employs nearly 3,000 professionals. The company's net sales in 2009 totalled MEUR 307.8 with an operating margin of 13.5 per cent. Alma Media's share (ALN1V) is listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Exchange. Read more at www.almamedia.fi This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Alma Media Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1480111]