News International creates repro service for advertisers
News International has set up an in-house company to offer reprographic services to advertisers.
News Stream will perform functions previously carried out by the Mullis Morgan Group, along with display advertising work formerly done by the NI advertising production department. The pre-press company will go into operation on October 1.
Advertisers will still be able to use external repro houses for creative and colour services provided the company has been approved by NI. Where advertisers choose to do this, they will have to pay a separate fee for News Stream’s auditing work. This includes proofing display ads, checking for computer viruses and converting artwork to a format that can be used on NI titles The Sun, The News of the World, The Times and The Sunday Times.
The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) has been calling for advertisers to be able to use a repro house of their choice rather than be forced to go through a single gateway repro house nominated by the publisher.
ISBA director of media services Bob Wootton says: “The NI announ-cement is probably a good sign, but one which will be received with considerable caution, if not scepticism, by the market.”
He warns advertisers that those which use an alternative repro house could find it harder to claim compensation if mistakes are made.
NI was unavailable for comment.
