Guardian launches new tabloid format

The Guardian has launched its new tabloid format today (15 January) following the publication of its final edition in the mid-size Berliner format on Saturday.

All sections and supplements of The Guardian and The Observer have been redesigned, both in print and digital versions and online, with changes including new mastheads, a new font called Guardian Headline and an updated colour palette.

A number of editorial changes have also been introduced. The weekday editions of The Guardian will now consist of three sections: the main section, which will feature news, politics and sport; Journal, which will focus on opinion and ideas; and G2, the features, arts and culture supplement.

As well as the news section and the Journal and Sports supplements, the Saturday edition of The Guardian will also include five magazines: a redesigned Weekend, which will include a raft of new features, plus Review, The Guide, Travel and new food magazine Feast.

The first edition of The Observer in tabloid format will be published this Sunday (21 January).

The new-look Observer Magazine will include new columnists and features while The New Review will continue to focus on cultural and intellectual reporting, covering the arts, politics, books, science and technology.

Guardian News & Media (GNM) editor-in-chief Katharine Viner said the last few months has been “an exhilarating period of creativity, imagination and focus”.

“I’m thrilled with the result: a new paper that feels bold, striking and beautiful, and still unmistakably The Guardian. It has also been a fantastic opportunity to redesign our website and apps.

“The new Guardian will be a space for big ideas, for debate, for clear thinking and new perspectives.”

The Guardian owner Guardian Media Group (GMG) confirmed the move to tabloid format last month, following a period of speculation after it had already revealed in June that printing would be outsourced to Trinity Mirror.

It has since confirmed that this will take place at Trinity’s Watford, Oldham and Glasgow plants.

Trinity Mirror will also print the Saturday edition's Travel magazine, while Roto Smeets will continue to print Weekend and York Mailing will print ReviewThe Guide and Feast.

The decision to shift its print will lead to GMG closing its printing sites, which house three Manroland Colorman presses, purchased in 2005 as part of an £80m investment.

Last month a GMG spokesperson told PrintWeek that around 50 staff who work at these print sites will be leaving GNM as a result of the move to tabloid.

“The change to tabloid format is an important milestone in our three-year transformation plan and will save several million pounds,” said Guardian Media Group chief executive David Pemsel.

“The media sector remains challenging. However, our reader revenues are growing well, and more people are reading us than ever before - we now reach over 150 million unique browsers each month and we have over 800,000 supporters.

“Our strategy to secure The Guardian’s future is on track. By April 2018 we will have halved our operating losses in just two years, reducing them from £57m to £25m per year, with the goal of breaking even in 2018/19.”