The Hawk to take Hampshire Cricket coverage to new heights
CounterPress is delighted to announce the launch of a dedicated outlet for the historic club, run by experienced reporter Rich Edwards.
Hampshire Cricket fans will soon be able to read regular, high-quality, independent coverage of their team through The Hawk, a new addition to the CounterPress network.
Twenty years ago, the traditional local media provided substantial reporting on Hampshire's trials and tribulations, but over the past decade that coverage has dwindled.
"I'm delighted to be covering Hampshire cricket in a way that hasn't been possible for years."Rich Edwards, The Hawk
With national newspapers choosing to largely ignore the domestic game, too, day-to-day detailed writing on events at the Utilita Bowl have been far too hard for supporters to find.
No longer.
Rich Edwards, an experienced freelance cricket journalist and (almost) lifelong Hampshire man, has partnered with CounterPress to launch The Hawk - the future of coverage of this historic county.
The Hawk 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 June 16, and it will formally launch on July 1.
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.
Edwards said: "I'm delighted to be covering Hampshire cricket in a way that hasn't been possible for years.
"Local and national coverage, not just of Hampshire but of the other 18 counties has massively diminished over the past two decades but as crowds for domestic cricket have illustrated so far this season, the passion for the county game has not.
"I'll be aiming to bring our readership the kind of regular exclusive content that, quite simply, won't be found anywhere else. Of course, none of that will be possible without the support of Hampshire's dedicated fanbase.
"Together with CounterPress, we'll be looking to deliver a substantial number of subscribers to ensure that this project isn't just a success but offers a blueprint for the future of domestic cricket coverage in this country."
The Hawk is the first outlet to sign up with CounterPress, in our bid to change the game for sports journalism across the UK and beyond.
"Hampshire fans are in great hands, and we couldn't have hoped for a better project to be our first external outlet owner."Sam Morshead, CounterPress
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: “We're delighted that Hampshire supporters will once again be able to access quality, informed reporting of their team as a result of our partnership with Rich on The Hawk.
"Rich understands the Hampshire membership, has excellent contacts at the club and in the wider game, and has a strong reputation in the industry for delivering engaging stories.
"Hampshire fans are in great hands, and we couldn't have hoped for a better project to be our first external outlet owner."
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 also offers 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.