The South Wales Echo (South Wales Echo Newspaper)

Member Name: chris212

Product:	South Wales Echo Newspaper
Date:	17/06/09 (124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gives local news that is relevant

Disadvantages: High price, often very thin on news

The South Wales Echo is the daily local newspaper that is distributed in Cardiff and the surrounding areas. The paper was originally under the published under the name Western Mail and Echo Ltd, but this has reformed under a new name of Media Wales Ltd, and is under the umbrella of the Trinity Mirror Group. While the Echo is mainly sold in South Wales, its sister newspaper the Western Mail is mainly sold in North Wales. The newspaper has recently moved to a single edition daily, as previously the newspaper was a rwice daily, with an early and late edition.

The main focus of the newspaper is of local news in and around Cardiff, although news of from the valleys is included. The focus of the news will usually relate to matters that affect Cardiff, such council meeting and council policy or ant event that has taken place, such as concerts at the Millenium Stadium or CIA.

The sports section while focusing on the local team such as Cardiff City FC and other, it is not very extensive. As some times the sport section can only be 5 pages long and that is it. Although on a Monday the paper has a centre page pull out of sport, as this is where the match reports and player ratings are usually given from the previous weekend.

The problem with the paper is the price of the paper that currently stands at 47p to 50p, depending on what day you purchase the paper. This is considerably more than the nation newspaper, that will normally have more news in them.

My second criticism of the newpaper is the recent redesign of the layout. What I have noticed is that there is less and less new articles appearing in the newspaper and more adverts taking up the sapce. I understand the need for the newpaper to keep and maintaine its level of income in the current climate, but when you comare the two I start to feel a bit ripped off.

One of the best parts of the newspaper is the write in section, where people air their views, as some of the grievences are hilarious. As they give complaints about the state of the roads to children in their area.

I find myself asking myself would I recommend a friend to buy this newspaper. I answer I would give is I am not sure that I would. Yes it does contain local news that is sometimes interesting, but the main problem of the paper is the quantity of news for the cost. In some editions the the paper can be best described as waiffer thin. It the paper was the same as it was before its relaunch I would recommend it, but because of the relaunch it is no longer value for money and recommend another paper.

Summary: Ok if nothing else to read but would recommend another paper