– Scotsman losses: Johnston Press is merging its Edinburgh-based papers The Scotsman and Scotland On Sunday after the division posted the first loss in its 192-year history. The Scotsman and its Sunday counterpart have lost about 40 percent of their print circulation in the past decade and recently Scotsman.com has fallen from 3.2 million monthly unique users to two million. Editor-in-chief John McLellan is not a digital convert — he says “I’m not convinced that giving everything away on the web serves the interests of the paper best.” From Guardian.co.uk.
– Mecom debt extension: European newspaper group Mecom has won yet another extension to its debt repayments. The company’s banking covenant test was due today but has for a fourth time been postponed, this time until May 31 as it looks to raise £140 million of new equity from shareholders. Mecom also announces its 2008 year-end results in which it made operating profits 24 percent lower year on year at £104.6 million, on revenues three percent lower at £1.52 billion. Release.
– Guardian’s legal issues: Guardian Media Group is launching an online legal advice service offering property brokers tailored advice from a panel of lawyers. Legal Issues will automatically match customers’ questions with a solicitor near their home or office with relevant expertise — the service claims lawyers will then respond within 24 hours. Via Ifaonline.co.uk. Disclosure: paidContent:UK’s parent company ContentNext Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian News & Media.
– BBC shuts Good Homes: BBC Worldwide’s magazine’s division is shutting its Good Homes title after 11 years due to the crippled UK housing market. Its 17 staff are now in consultation. The mag’s monthly circulation of 97,725 in December last year was a drop of 23 percent year on year. From Mediaweek.
– Knowledge: Music magazine Knowledge, which is staffed entirely by freelancers, is to go online-only from July after 15 years of print publishing. All content will be published at Kmag.co.uk. From J.co.uk.
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