User:Meejawiki/London Weekly

The London Weekly is a free newspaper that was first published in London on February 5, 2010. It had previously launched a website, TheLondonWeekly.co.uk, on 20 December 2009.

Plans for the London Weekly were announced shortly after the two established London free newspapers -- News International's thelondonpaper and Associated Newspapers-owned London Lite ceased publication and the new ownership of the London Evening Standard had announced plans to switch to free distribution, and early reports about the venture contextualised it as a serious competitor to the Standard.

However, unanswered questions about the London Weekly's ownership and staffing, along with widespread criticism of its amateurish design and content later raised speculation in the British media that the publication is part of an elaborate publicity stunt or hoax, possibly orchestrated by someone like the satirist Chris Morris. There is evidence linking the publication to Invincible Media Group, run by Jordan Kensington.

Ownership
Little that can be independently verified is known about the ownership of the newspaper. The London Weekly masthead claims that it is published by Global Publishing Group, however no such corporate entity is registered with Companies House.

In statements to media trade publications, Global Publishing Group claimed to have raised £10.5 million from five private investors to finance the launch. The group also announced ambitious plans for online television and radio stations, an awards ceremony, and further free newspaper launches in several other British cities.

Unusually for a free newspaper which would be dependent on advertising revenue, the London Weekly appears to have had only limited contact with media buying agencies before its launch.

The paper is not registered with the Press Complaints Commission and the National Union of Journalists has said it is investigating the publication.

Staff
In late 2009, the paper launched a website that listed about 50 contributors, but provided no contact telephone number or address. A Whois lookup of the site's domain name listed a PO Box in west London as GMG's address.

The editor of the paper was initially named as Roisin Robertson, formerly chief reporter of the Chislehurst Times and a Parliamentary candidate for the Green Party (UK). Robertson later said she had had stood down as editor and the paper told journalists that the new editor was one Alan Mills.

Two freelance journalists listed as contributors told the Guardian newspaper that they had had very little contact with those involved with the paper.

Links to Invincible Media Group
Several of the contributors named on the London Weekly website appear to have links to Invincible Media Group, an umbrella name for the business interests of serial entertainment entrepreneur Jordan Kensington.

One company that had agreed a promotion with The London Weekly was given an address shared by Invincible Media Group. .

Criticism of first edition
The launch edition of the London Weekly was heavily criticised by readers and media insiders. Among many gaffes, the front page included a prominent mis-spelling of the name of cricketer Phil Tufnell and the launch edition's lead story was nearly identical to a press release that had issued earlier in the week by rugby club London Wasps.

Distribution
Given the publishers' secrecy, little is known about the printing and distribution of the London Weekly. Prior to launch, the publishers claimed that 250,000 copies would be distributed on Friday and Saturday mornings at London Underground and railway stations.

The publishers have declined to reveal the printers contracted to produce the newspaper.