New newspaper in Varna

Varna is developing. This is a fact, as well it is a fact that the second largest city in Bulgaria is already turning to be a factor with national significance. The sea capital with almost half a million people is setting up as an attractive center for thousands of people and turns to be an investment goal with an European value. Business and economy in our city are showing steadily increase within the recent years and that was evaluated by everyone. In this favourable environment – low unemployment rate, relatively high Gross domestic product and favourable geographical and geopolitical location the journalism in Varna is Developing. The rich in events city is the working field for the local media. It provides news, provokes analyses and comments. The guild of journalists in Varna has a tradition, it is respected and honoured. This is the first time, a printed edition that can reach for free all readers in the city appears. Unlike the “traditional” newspapers it relies on a new formula by which is corresponding with the reader. Which are the advantages of the newspaper for free? They are thought to be the “newspapers of the future”, because they combine the traditional way of distribution and the paper print view with the advantages of the free access of information in Internet, that is clear, simple and easy to be read. Free weekly mini-magazines and guides for the spare time and traveling are issued in Bulgaria. Free weekly newspapers are distributed in Sofia and Bourgas. The free newspapers are not born from the Internet mania, but influenced by it they more and more take the graphics of the Internet pages. They are free only for the readers, but not for the advertisers, which they are entirely relying for their costs. Their flourishing in the period of common regression of the circulation of the typical newspapers is an indication for a world tendency. The Internet culture and the plenty of information in the Net creates the feeling that it should be obtained for free. Except from the specialized editions, used for professional purposes, there are no newspapers which can rely on serious business only through a paid access. All of them are staking on the wide free access and on the attracting advertisers with it. Similar tendency have been observed through the recent years in the field of printed editions. Unlike the free newspapers for announcements and advertisements that appeared in the 70-ties, which are widely distributed even now, the new free newspapers publish not only advertisements and small announcements, but all kind of general information and analytical texts, which can be found in the paid editions. Large part of the Bulgarian newspapers just cannot explain their readers what and how has happened. That, what is typical for the free editions in our country, is the volume of the advertisement they are gaining. They are following the model of the advertising leaflet to a great extent, but there are also interesting texts inside. One of these papers is “Weekly post”, distributed only in Sofia and having a circulation of more than 400 thousands copies. The motto of the edition is “Whatever other people tell you, circulation is the most important!” Together with the announcements and advertisements, the newspaper is publishing extracts from books such as “12 myths for the Bulgarian history “ by Bozhidar Dimitrov for instance. Some people find this publications interesting, other think this is a direct nationalism. Readers say that what lacks in the free editions are the bright photos – except for the sessions, made with advertising purpose. Part of the free editions are specialized. “Apteka” (“Pharmacy”) magazine is freely distributed in the network of the pharmacies. The newspaper “All for your health” can be found in every health institution in Bourgas. Each edition gives also a ticket for discount for some of the procedures. Similar to countries such as Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Estonia and in Bulgaria “Official gazette” is already with free access in the Internet, but requires a registration. The subscription is a service which grants the opportunity to receive an e-mail when publishing a certain type of social service. Is it needed to have a free edition? The idea for the realization of such kind of newspaper is floating in the public area for a couple of years. After seven years of preparation this large scale project has been finally realized and now all residents of Varna are gaining. “Dialog” newspaper is the first media in its type in Bulgaria, that will represent positive information, but not mediocre one. The newspaper team will rely on the reader for this apostolic initiative – its goal, judge and corrective. As all we will be readers, this will be our edition. Lets start with the dialogue. You have the floor.

From the editors