Profit dip as papers battle

PRE-tax profits at the Clare Champion newspaper have fallen 21% as the company gears up for a major circulation battle with the soon to be launched Clare People tabloid newspaper.

The latest figures filed by the Ennis-based broadsheet Champion shows that pre tax profits fell by €122,347 to €465,999 in the 12 months to January 1, 2004.

Clare Champion managing editor John Galvin has launched a national recruitment campaign to replace former editor Gerry Collison. He left the paper in January to become managing editor of the Clare People which is expected to hit the streets by mid-summer, most likely in June.