LONDON, 7 January 2007 — Arab News and its sister Arabic publications Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Eqtisadiah and Arriyadiah hit the newsstands yesterday in a new size more convenient for readers. The move comes as part of Saudi Research & Marketing Group’s (SRMG) strategy of keeping pace with global developments.
“The new size will not affect the content, layout or advertisements in these newspapers,” the SRMG said in a statement. Arab News will continue to have six columns of news while its sister publications will have eight columns as before.
Asharq Al-Awsat, which is published from London, has been appearing in the new size in its European editions since April 2006. The change has been welcomed by readers as it matches the size of European and American newspapers.
The international trend in changing the size of newspapers is aimed at helping readers to carry and read them at any place, be it at home or while on the move.
“Following the success of Asharq Al-Awsat’s European editions, SRMG decided to apply the new size to the Arabic daily’s other Arab editions and then to its Saudi and Gulf editions. It was also applied to Arab News, Al-Eqtisadiah business daily and Arriyadiah sports daily,” the company said.
