Telegraph dumps Tory image for ‘student friendly’ paper

The Daily Telegraph is launching a version of the newspaper for students aimed at dislodging its “Torygraph” image.

The paper has yet to be named and will be published once a term with a print run of 250,000. If successful, it will be published at least twice a term.

Daily Telegraph market development manager Debby Cowen says: “It will be a showcase for the Telegraph, aimed at changing negative preconceptions about the paper. Research shows that many students have not sampled the title.”

Cowen adds that although the new paper will carry advertising and sponsorship, it is not primarily a commercial venture and will be available free of charge.

The Daily Telegraph has already made some significant moves to win a share of the student market. It is sold in campus shops for 15p on weekdays rather than its full price of 45p. There is also a 50 per cent saving on the more expensive weekend editions. The paper also sponsors a student fantasy football league, a stand-up comedy competition and various university sporting leagues.

Cowen says sales of The Daily Telegraph among students are ahead of The Guardian and roughly equal to sales of The Times.

In a separate move the paper is to carry a weekly cartoon strip featuring the motorcycling character Ogri. The strip will appear in The Telegraph’s Saturday morning supplement starting this week. Ogri’s infamous foul language will be toned down for the Telegraph’s readers.

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