In a new series of blog posts, we’ll be analysing what public relations opportunities are available within Britain’s major newspapers- a roadmap to selling in if you will. So consider this our first edition, with The Daily Mail its focal point…
The Basics
Despite what the critics say, The Daily Mail is a great paper. In addition to the frequent references to Princess Diana, Fergie, or some other besmirched royal, you can expect plenty of animal stories, surveys and product reviews.
The main paper carries international and breaking news throughout the front pages, followed by pictures and funnies, food and drink, celebrity stories, surveys, and business. The surveys are usually attributed to a commissioner, this is worth noting in order to get an idea of why the survey has been carried out.
The business pages are definitely worth a read, and are presented in a far more digestible format than broadsheets such as The Times and Telegraph. Key focal points are mostly related to financial performance.
Weekend supplements
Weekend
Distributed with the main paper on a Saturday, this extensive supplement is aimed at an entertainment readership. Pop culture features, extended celebrity stories, interviews and TV listings all play a prominent role. The ‘Your Weekend’ section is a good read too, and includes food and drink, gardening with Monty Don, travel and a celebrity Q&A interview, in that order.
There’s also a ‘New To The Shops’ listing each week. Travel is often covered extensively, with cruising and sailing, long haul, weekend breaks and short haul holiday ideas. Full sports coverage is provided including news and comment.
Event
Distributed with the main paper on a Sunday, the layout is similar to Weekend. There are several dedicated culture pages – books, theatre, music, DVD, dance, classical (music), art, television, opera; most of which feature news on related events first, then critical reviews.
Tech, cars, food and drink are covered too, and Event contains the ‘Very Important Pictures’ page, featuring celebrity social media snaps.
You
Distributed on a Sunday with the main paper, its target is female Daily Mail readers and the content typical consumer lifestyle, with real life and human interest stories, plenty of beauty, food, health and fashion pages, all of which feature listed items.
It also contains a Q&A with a different pop culture figure each week, such as Tina Malone from Shameless, and a larger cover feature with a personality- for example Sophie ‘Game of Thrones‘ Turner, and Joan Collins made the grade not so long ago too… who did look pretty good for 80.
Interiors are well represented, and, finally, there is the health page, wherein a wide variety of issues are addressed and advice is offered.
