“Few of us have the time to read one newspaper from cover to cover, let alone the hundreds of newspapers and magazines published in the UK and overseas every week. Britain's daily and Sunday newspapers contain a staggering 5,800 pages. Almost ten million words. Each week.”

The idea . . .

Source: http://www.the.week.magazine.co.uk/?jlnk=hsl0100

“Most newspapers and magazines on the market have a political bias. The reporting is tinged with left or right wing prejudices, which make getting a thorough, balanced view on the British political arena a seemingly improbable task.”

The idea . . .

Source: http://www.the.week.magazine.co.uk/?jlnk=hsl0100

Source: http://www.the.week.magazine.co.uk/?jlnk=hsl0100

• A page of the best political cartoon strips from around the

globe

• A pick of the ‘corrections & clarifications’ newspapers are

made to print

• A pick of comment from ‘the blogosphere’

Aside from this, The Week is tip-top!

The things I’d improve . . .

The figures . . .

The Week is part of a thriving market:

– Current-affairs weeklies up (Feb 2009 ABCs):

• The Week up 6.4% to 154,512 (Dennis Publishing’s biggest rise)

• The Economist up 3.1% to 186, 995

• The Spectator up 2% to 77, 146

• Money Week up 16.6% to 38, 916

Sources: http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=43075http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/28/rajars-radio-4-today-programme-audience-soars

Also, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme saw it’s biggest audience

figures for seven years (since 9/11) in last quarter of 2008.

The Jan - Jun 08 ABC figure of 154,512 represents an

increase of 4.5% year on year, its 20th consecutive

increase.

The Week is the UK's highest-selling weekly subscription

magazine.

The figures . . .

Source: http://www.dennis.co.uk/dennis_site/brands/index.php?view_id=90

Big news stories – people look for greater understanding / feed

appetite

The examples:

‘Credit Crunch’ – top of news agenda (or always thereabouts) since

early 2008. Directly affects practically every single person in

some way – need for a greater understanding of bafflingly

complex area.

U.S. Presidential Election (2008/2009) - Real-life unscripted drama.

Breeds an appetite of interest – turn to current-affairs outlets.

The reasons . . .

National Readership Survey (NRS): Oct 2007 – Sept 2008

- survey carried out on sample population of 48, 982

1.3% of sample population are in socio-economic group ABC1

( top earners)

Only 0.2% of sample population in C2DE classification

0.9% of sample population aged 15-44

0.7% of sample population aged 45+

0.8% of sample population are male

0.7% of sample population are female

The reader . . .

Source: http://www.nrs.co.uk/top_line_readership

The reader . . .

•Readers of The Week have an average

salary of £65,423

•An average household income of £88,767

•An average of seven holidays and weekend

breaks a year

•83% are keen book readers

•79% are wine buffs and 98% are

restaurant goers

•Readers own average

stockholdings of £201,556

Source: http://www.dennis.co.uk/dennis_site/brands/index.php?view_id=90

The advertisements. . .

The reader . . .

“The Week offers a highly targeted audience and access to some of the most affluent opinion-formers in the country today. People who have money to spend on enjoying life, who love the arts and travel, who are well paid and have influential jobs. For any upmarket advertiser, this is a crucial audience.”

Source: http://www.dennis.co.uk/dennis_site/brands/index.php?view_id=90

1. ‘Return of the sun’ festival – March 8; Spitsbergen,

Norway

2. ‘Elephant festival’ – March 10; Jaipur, India

3. Premier of ‘Miner’s Strike: On The Front Line’ –

March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day); film marks 25th anniversary

of miners’ strike, exploring its impact on South Tyneside.

The pitch . . .