The Courier is an independent, paid-for community newspaper, published fortnightly for the Mid Devon area. We not only circulate in the town of Crediton, but also extensively distribute within a 20 mile radius, including parts of North and West Devon including these post cost - EX17, EX16, EX18, EX20, EX5, EX6. Our newspaper is also sold in many outlets in Exeter and Okehampton. Being a paid-for newspaper the readership of 10 - 12,500 is nationally recognised as true figures. As an advertising Media we offer a service second to none at a price which, when compared with other publications, can only be described as both modest and reasonable. Your advertisement is produced by local people with a local knowledge extending over many years.
About the Courier With the March 2000 publication - No 585 - the Crediton Country Courier celebrates over 25 years of regular publication and moves into the age of electronics by going on-line.
 |
From a modest beginning, in November 1974, the first issue being distributed free, then paid for once a month, it obviously met a local need and it was not very long before the number of pages increased and it changed to a fortnightly, paid for, community newspaper.
In doing so, it doubtless confounded newspaper design critics but pleased its readers, advertisers and the bank. Unlike some newspapers, it has remained firmly independent, resisting blandishments and offer to become a part of established groups. It is owned by one person and owes allegiance to no-one but its readers and its conscience. When it began there were five partners, who each contributed £5 to meet initial expenses and for the first year no-one drew any fees or expenses.
Dedicated as a local newspaper it was, is and will continue to be produced by people who live locally and use their skills for it because they enjoy doing so.
Although modern technology is used in its production, it declines to be brash or partial in its content or appearance and has earned a well deserved reputation for balanced and accurate reporting of local affairs.
In addition to the present owners, Tindle Newspapers, the original partners were Sue Read, Alan Swann, then of Barnes newsagents, Maggie Finch of Crediton Writers' Circle and Ken Turner of Phillips and Company, with the late Horace England as Chairman and Jimmy Young as correspondent, specialising in offering a good pub guide.
The partners came together at the suggestion of Dr Raymond Skinner of Queen Elizabeth School, who felt there was a need for a purely local newspaper to contain reports of those events for which newspapers covering a much wider area could find no room.
The first issues were printed by Phillips, who set the type and the mostly eight and 10 page newspaper was printed on a flatbed machine.
As the publication succeeded, so more pages became necessary and printing was transferred to a web offset printer at Honiton. The text, advertisements and photographs were prepared at Crediton and pasted up on a dining table at Ken Turner's home, then in Searle Street.
Copy was produced by Sue and Maggie, each working form home. Their territory was divided by the A377 road. Sue covered the Yeoford side and Maggie covered the Sandford side.
Time went by, costs rose and the circulation grew and the original cover cost of 5p per copy, a charge which has climbed slowly over the years to the present 50p.
In recent years production has switched from the use of the electronic typewriter and hand operated headline machine to Apple Macintosh computers and web offset printing at Dursley, and now Exeter.
Staffing has never been a problem. Members of staff come, stay a while and then, for various good reasons, have left and replacements have taken their place. Only twice has it become necessary to advertise, other than the need to advertise for the first member of staff.
The Courier has had three "official" homes, the first from 117 High Street, then at Union Road, (which outgrew) and now its present address at 102 High Street.
We became a Limited company at the end of 2004 and are now part of the Farnham Castle Newspapers - Tindle Group of Independent Family newspapers.