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February 2005
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The North West Evening Mail recorded a substantial increase in sales through its extensive coverage of the Lady in the Lake trial, in which retired teacher Gordon Park was accused of the murder of his wife Carol in l976. The Mail featured reports throughout the 10-week trial, culminating in the Friday evening and Saturday morning specials on the guilty verdict against Gordon Park. Normally printed at 1pm, Friday's special late edition was printed at 5pm, less than two hours after the guilty verdict was delivered. A further insight into the Lady in the Lake trial was produced on Saturday morning at 8am, featuring a 13-page report and analysis on the verdict and the town's reaction. Some 8,000 extra copies were printed due to the interest shown by the local community. |
The Mail had been running stories on the disappearance of the local woman for the past 30 years, after she went missing in 1976. An appeal by her children was featured in the local paper shortly after she went missing, but nothing further was heard until 1997, when her body was discovered in Coniston Water.
Phil Pearson, deputy editor, said: "There has been a
massive interest in this case throughout the town for nearly 30 years.
We reported on the 10 week trial daily and when the guilty verdict came
in, the two special editions we ran proved very popular, increasing our
Saturday sales by nearly 3000 copies" To add a story about your newspaper to the Newspaper Society's showcase of editorial excellence, please complete the form or contact Jodie Ward on 020 7693 0440 or email jodie_ward@newspapersoc.org.uk
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