A NEWSPAPER published exclusively for residents in the south of the Island has gone on sale today (Wednesday).

The Southern Chronicle is the first newspaper ever to be published for the south of the Island and the first new newspaper to be launched in the Isle of Man in 24 years.

The 40 page community newspaper is a joint partnership between Ricky Broadbent of Quine and Cubbon printers in Port St Mary and journalist and former newspaper editor Bill Dale.

A spokesperson for the Southern Chronicle 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."

Editor Bill Dale has achieved an unusual media hat trick with the launch of the paper as he is the founding editor of the last three newspapers to be launched in the Isle of Man.

He was editor and co-owner of the Isle of Man Gazette which was launched in 1985 and founding managing editor of The Manx Independent which was launched in 1987 and celebrates its 25th anniversary next year.

The Southern Chronicle is A4 in format and is on sale at newsagents throughout the south of the Island priced at £1.

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