A statement published on the London-based free financial newspaper’s website yesterday (9 January) said that since returning to print in September 2021 [18 months after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic forced its suspension], the title is “back to almost 100% of its pre-pandemic circulation levels” across the capital and the South East on the first four days of the week.
“However, with Transport for London data demonstrating that Friday has become a ‘working from home’ day for the vast majority of London’s professionals, City A.M. has decided to redefine the weekend with a bumper Thursday edition – responding to the trends obvious to everybody in the Square Mile and Canary Wharf – and serving our readers online on Friday,” the statement read.
Thursday’s newspaper will now have an expanded lifestyle and sports section, as well as featuring the title’s columnist, Sky News’ Mark Kleinman.
Throughout January, City A.M. will also be rolling out a raft of new features both in print and online, including a weekly long-read interview with City movers and shakers, a daily notebook from a rotating cast of Square Mile characters, two new podcasts, and three revamped newsletters.
Andy Silvester, editor of City A.M., said: “As anybody can tell from the pubs and bars of the City, Thursday is the new Friday. With the world changing, and more people working from home on Fridays, it’s the smart move to focus on serving our readers online rather than in print.
“There was plenty of scepticism when we brought back the paper in September 2021 – but we’ve been thrilled with the response, and the paper is thriving on the first four days of the week. London may be changing but City A.M. will remain right at the heart of it – both in print and online.”
PressGazette reported that no jobs will be lost as a result of the change, with print-first staff on the night design desk being redeployed on Thursdays to create the boosted print edition, and doing more digital work.
City A.M. had a certified distribution of 68,352 copies a day in November 2022, according to the newspaper ABCs.
