Next week The Independent will launch a new newspaper (Monday 25th October), basically a smaller version of the current offering called i; priced at 20p.  This release will occur in conjunction with an upgrade to the existing £1 paper.

What I find so interesting about this, is that not only has it been years since a new paid for paper was launched but it is also in conflict with current trends.

Whilst ABC Sales have been going through the floor for several years, the trend has been to move to digital. Every newspaper from the Daily Star to The Guardian has a digital presence, offering readers snippets of news as an extra to the hard copy. There are some newspapers who are even improving their digital offerings, who can forget the furore when The Times made people pay for its digital content.

With this inclination toward pay walls and digital and in a time of hardship, The Independent are brave to release a new hard-copy, paid for newspaper.

I used to enjoy reading quality newspapers (including The Independent), but I now rely on viewing digital content on mobile during my 35 minute commute.

Quoting The Independent: “i is specifically targeted at readers and lapsed readers of quality newspapers, and those of all ages who want a comprehensive digest of the news in printed form. i will combine intelligence with brevity, and depth with speed of reading, providing an essential daily briefing.”

Clearly I am the target audience, and I am interested to see how profitable this venture becomes. But, for my money, I would welcome paying 20p a day for this kind of content to be delivered digitally.

Back in 1986 I bought the first edition of The Independent which was used by my Dad as dinner plate wrapping paper when moving house. At that time (1995) this was valued at £80. A screenshot of digital content would never have this kind of value or use.