Durham to get dedicated local cricket news outlet: The Chester
CounterPress is delighted to announce the launch of its fourth network site, delivering high-quality coverage of Durham Cricket.
Durham Cricket fans will soon be able to read regular, high-quality, independent coverage of their team through The Chester, a new addition to the CounterPress network.
With national newspapers choosing to largely ignore the domestic game, broad and deep writing on day-to-day events at the Riverside has been increasingly hard to find.
No longer.
Thomas Ridley, a freelance cricket journalist and Durham fan, has partnered with CounterPress to launch The Chester - the future of coverage of this historic county.
"Durham is often neglected by some publications and it's about time the county gets the coverage it deserves."Thomas Ridley, The Chester
The Chester will provide in-depth, intelligent, insightful writing on all aspects of the club's activity. Interested supporters will be able to register their interest from July 18, and it will formally launch on August 4.
Anyone who registers their interest during the initial two-week window will receive vouchers for either 40 per cent off a monthly membership for three months, or 25 per cent off an annual subscription for the first year.
Ridley said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be launching The Chester with CounterPress, yielding a new age of cricket coverage in the North East.
"As the northernmost county on the circuit, Durham is often neglected by some publications and it's about time the county gets the coverage it deserves. It's a cricket club on the up, constantly supplying talent for England across all formats, and producing excellent performances on the pitch.
"The CounterPress model provides the perfect platform to give you, the subscribers, the content that you want and I'm looking forward to collaborating with you on ideas in the future.
"I can't wait to get started and now is the best time to jump on The Chester train before it leaves the station."
The Chester is the fourth outlet to sign up with CounterPress, in our bid to change the game for sports journalism across the UK and beyond.
"We're so pleased Thomas has chosen to take the leap and deliver an outlet of value for the members and fans of Durham."Sam Morshead, CounterPress CEO
The platform allows reporters to create, curate and promote their own media brand - providing technological and human resource in all aspects of developing and running an outlet.
CounterPress recently received a significant injection of funds following a round of angel investment, and is actively engaged in conversations with a dozen other potential outlets across two sports.
Co-founder Sam Morshead said: “Thomas is passionate about Durham, and it's exciting for CounterPress to enable him to turn that passion into the sort of journalism that will serve a real purpose for his community.
“There is a need within county cricket for outlets like The Chester, which shed light on a sport which is increasingly being marginalised in the national press in favour of the exploits of the England team.
“CounterPress is designed to empower journalists to fill the gaps being left by the decisions large publishers are taking, and we're so pleased Thomas has chosen to take the leap and deliver an outlet of value for the members and fans of Durham.”
The Moonraker, providing independent coverage of Swindon Town FC, launched on CounterPress as the company's flagship concept site, last August.
Run part-time by one reporter, it has maintained a paying membership of more than 500 at all times since late August and is on course to generate just under £30,000 in gross revenue in its first year. This compares to an industry average for a regional UK staff journalist of £32,000 (as of 2023).
CounterPress provides functionality that allows users to create and illustrate editorial, manage audiences, review analytics, send e-marketing campaigns, deliver commercial partnerships, and control finances and subscriptions.
It will also offer outlet owners the opportunity to earn beyond their market share, courtesy of a network subscription offering that gives readers the chance to upgrade to access coverage of every journalist on the network. That revenue is centrally pooled and redistributed.
Unlike other digital publishing solutions in the same space, the CounterPress team – made up of experienced journalists, brand designers and developers – provide consultancy services in the creation and delivery of an outlet’s brand.
The company is built around a core value of community, and aims to revitalise sports reporting, particularly in the regions, over the coming months and years.
Be a part of change.
Sam Morshead
Co Founder
Are you ready for journalism's new future? Get in touch today to find out how CounterPress can work for you.