The Evening Standard might now be free to its readers, but not necessarily to its vendors. Editor Geordie Greig revealed to Radio 4's Media Show that 'dozens' of newsagents are paying up to 2p per copy to stock the paper as a loss leader. Further, in some areas these 'entrenprenuerial' (Guardian spelling) newsagents are clubbing together 'distribute the Standard in 'little places we decided we couldn't afford to go to'. Little places like the boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Havering. And Bexley. And Sutton. According to Greig, his paper has seen an 'absolutely dramatic' increase in advertising, at the same time as distribution costs have dropped. Image by secretlondon123.
