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Oldham Evening Chronicle owner announces return to print

The owners of a leading regional news brand which moved online have announced plans for its return to print this summer.

Credible Media Group, owners of the Oldham Evening Chronicle, have confirmed the title will return to print on Friday June 25. It will be the first time the newspaper has been printed regularly since 2017 after previous owners, Hirst, Kidd and Rennie went into liquidation.

The title was purchased by Credible Media from KPMG in October 2017. The company own Oldham Business Edge, a local B2B publication, and operated the local radio station, Revolution 96.2.

When the station was purchased by the Bauer Media Group in a deal last year, Credible Media committed to investing in the title, both digitally and in print.

The first edition of the free printed newspaper will be on supermarket shelves on Friday June 25th, with regular, monthly editions.

Matt Ramsbottom, Managing Director of Credible Media, says now is the time to begin to rebuild the print product. He said: “The impact of the Covid pandemic meant we had to slow down our plans for the Oldham Evening Chronicle to return to print, but as the local economy begins to emerge from the shutdown, it’s the perfect time for a regular, re-born newspaper.

“Our plans are measured and sensible, with the aim to produce a weekly edition later this year, followed by a bi-weekly edition by early 2022.”

The newspaper will continue to be produced in the newsroom in Oldham, which will remain the base for the Chronicle website and Oldham Business Edge magazine. The publication will be printed by Reach, based in Chadderton, Oldham.

Credible Media Group Content Director Kevin Bailey will oversee the output, with two in-house journalists and a team of freelancers supplying the publication exclusively.

Kevin said: “We’re confident that the Oldham Chronicle brand is still strong and respected in the town. It’s been reflected in our outstanding digital results, and feedback from readers.

“It will be exciting to see the presses rolling for the Oldham Chronicle again, and we’re looking forward to producing regular, print editions from June.”

The company is expected to relaunch the Chronicle website shortly afterwards, along with the development of a companion app.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Leggett .