Literary freesheet targets commuters fed up with celebrity diet

by Jennifer Whitehead Brand Republic 15-Nov-07, 10:20

LONDON - Commuters fed up with a diet of celebrity-laden freesheets will have an alternative next month, when London's first free creative-writing publication will be distributed.

Notes from the Underground is the idea of two recent graduates, Tristan Summerscale and Christopher Vernon. The 16-page tabloid will first appear on December 17, with a print run of 100,000, distributed free at 30 commuter locations.

It will then appear fortnightly, as well as having a website, Notesfromtheunderground.co.uk, which will rely on user-generated content to build a community of readers and writers.

Will Orr-Ewing, marketing director for Notes on the Underground, said: "We felt that there is a gap in the market for a free newspaper that is a bit more thought-provoking than the freesheets that are already out there."

Notes from the Underground will feature writing by new and established writers, and the plan is to run content including short stories, cartoons and non-fiction. The team is looking for a sponsor for the paper, and will also be selling advertising.