Milestone Group's Publishing Division brings together two previously independent publishing companies, the Courier Group and the Basingstoke Observer, who between them currently employ some 60 people from premises in Abingdon and Basingstoke (the latter shared with the Milestone local radio station, Kestrel FM). The division publishes nine main titles covering significant parts of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and North Hampshire.
Current titles:
Courier Journal Series
The Courier Journal is the leading free newspaper for central and southern Oxfordshire with 3 separate editions.
The South edition covers the important towns of Abingdon, Faringdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.
The Oxford and North Oxfordshire edition covers Oxford City, Bicester and Kidlington areas.
The West Oxfordshire edition covers Witney and West Oxfordshire.
The Courier Journal is higher regarded by both Oxonians and the student population. Weekly columnists include three of the area's leading Members of Parliament. Papers are delivered door-to-door and are available as a free 'pick-up' from collection points throughout the coverage area.
Web: www.couriergroup.com
Property Weekly
Launched in 1988, Property Weekly is the leading newspaper in Oxfordshire for property advertising. A quality broadsheet, it is supported by all major firms of estate agents in the county and the two editions run to around 50 pages. Property Weekly carries more property pages than any other local title and its distribution is unrivalled. Delivered to around 60,000 homes throughout the county, Property Weekly is also freely available outside 80 estate agent's offices.
Web: www.couriergroup.com
Auto Weekly
Auto Weekly is a major source of information for buying and selling cars in Oxfordshire. Well over 1,000 vehicles are advertised for sale every week. Launched in 1992, Auto Weekly now reaches over 100,000 households in the county as well as being freely available at local outlets.
Web: www.couriergroup.com
Breakout!
Breakout is aimed at 7 to 11 year olds in Oxfordshire and is published just before the end of term and half-term school holidays. Over 10,000 copies are distributed by primary school teachers to their pupils. The magazine is aimed at reader participation and encourages children to enter competitions and contribute to the editorial pages.
Web: www.couriergroup.com
Oxfordshire Living
Oxfordshire Living is a high-quality lifestyle publication available free each month from selected pick-up-points throughout the county. Oxfordshire Living covers luxury property, food, travel, arts, gardens, motoring, fashion, beauty, health and fitness, shopping, business and entertainment targeting 30+ ABC1 professionals in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire Living highlights the people, places and events that make the news in the region.
Web: www.couriergroup.com
Basingstoke Observer
The Basingstoke Observer was established in 2000 as a high quality free weekly newspaper for the Basingstoke and North Hampshire area working in conjunction with North Hampshire’s Kestrel FM. The paper is a 'pick-up' from supermarkets and other public outlets in and around Basingstoke, following the American model which is now taking off in a number of parts of the UK. Basingstoke Property Weekly is inserted as a free supplement each week with the Basingstoke Observer.
Web: www.couriergroup.com
Publishing division breakdown:
| Title | Focus | Freq-
uency | Est' Average advert' content | Area | Distribution Channel |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Courier Journal Series | Local news | Weekly | 73% | Oxfordshire | Letter box delivery and pick-up |
| | | | | | |
| Auto Weekly | Motors | Weekly | 96% | Oxford-
shire | Delivered as the middle section of the Courier Titles and the Journal since Feb 1999 |
| | | | | | |
| Property Weekly | Property | Weekly with two editions | 97% | Oxford-
shire | Letter box delivery and at pick-up points at estate agents and sold in newsagents for 25p |
| | | | | | |
| Passion Magazine | Local
listings | Monthly | 60% | Oxfordshire | Pick-up-points in and around Oxford, Abingdon, south Oxfordshire, west Oxfordshire and Bicester |
| Oxfordshire Living | Luxury homes and entertainment | Monthly magazine | 70% | Oxfordshire | Letter box delivery and at pick-up points and at estate agents |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Basingstoke Observer | Local news | Weekly | 78% | Basingstoke | Pick-up points at specified outlets such as supermarkets and newsagents |
| Basingstoke Property Weekly | Property | Weekly | 97% | Basingstoke | Weekly insert in the Basingstoke Observer and available as a seperate supplement from selected estate agents |
© Milestone Group PLC
