THE first newspaper to be launched in the Isle of Man in 24 years, and the first newspaper ever to be published for the south of the Island has gone on sale today (Wednedsay). The Southern Chronicle is a 40-page community newspaper available only in the south of the Island and has been published by a Port St Mary company. It is a joint partnership between Ricky Broadbent of Quine & Cubbon printers and journalist and former newspaper editor Bill Dale. The newspaper is in A4 format and on sale at newsagents throughout the south at a cover price of ?1. In a statement the publishers said, “We have discussed this idea for some time and the feedback was very positive, so we decided it was time to launch. “The Chronicle will be a true community newspaper covering the events and people in the south with a positive outlook on life. We hope to publish approximately every two months and we have had excellent support from a number of people and companies. “We are very happy with the first edition and already have the second planned for before Christmas. The feedback we have had to the idea has been really positive.” Bill Dale has achieved an unusual media hat trick in that he is the founding editor of the last three newspapers to be launched in the Island. He was editor and co-owner of the Isle of Man Gazette, launched in 1985, and founding managing editor of The Manx Independent which was launched in 1987 and celebrates its 25th anniversary next year. ENDS