The Internet, a regional newspaper and the provision of ‘value added’ information

The Northern Echo has long provided its newspaper in a digital form. It is now looking to use the Internet to widen its customer base and information remit. To this end two initiatives have been launched: it now provides background information to support and enhance the stories it publishes and it also runs an online reference service, which largely provides information on matters of local and national concern. This article describes and evaluates these initiatives and looks forward to their future.