NRC Next

nrc•next (Dutch pronunciation: [ɛnɛrseːnɛkst]) is a Dutch daily newspaper published in the Netherlands by NRC Media. The first edition was released on March 14, 2006. nrc•next is a morning edition tabloid, and its primary target group are young higher educated people.

The newspaper was launched on March 14, 2006.

Formula

The newspaper aims at young, well-educated (HBO or University) readers in the 25-34 age group, most of whom currently do not read a newspaper, or only the free tabloids Metro and Spits. Secondarily, nrc•next aims at the 20-39 age group.

nrc•next cooperates closely with the evening newspaper NRC Handelsblad, but has its own independent editors. About 60% of the content of nrc•next is taken from the NRC, the paper using a team of thirty people to reformulate its contents to a format more suitable for a younger audience. Furthermore the nrc•next is supplemented with graphics, columns, comics and puzzles.

The newspaper is intended for "the new generation of interested media-users who use news and information in a different way", according to NRC executive editor Folkert Jensma. The news is delivered in concise format, because it is assumed that the readers have already picked up the basics from other sources. For the same reason, some news items are not covered at all. Background, analysis and opinion are thus the main focus of the paper.

The paper was originally only published on Monday to Friday. It is marketed as a competitor for freesheets or, as the publishers claimed at the launch, it is "a newspaper for people who don't read paid newspapers." It costs one euro and ten cents, less than other paid newspapers. Regular readers can take a weekday subscription, or they can opt for a subscription for of nrc•next on weekdays and the NRC Weekend (Saturday edition for NRC Handelsblad and nrc•next) Saturday. Since 12 October 2013 the paper is also published on Saturday. Subscribers can choose between NRC Weekend or the Saturday edition of nrc•next.

A comparable initiative was launched in Flanders, Belgium: De Standaard Espresso: a lighter version of the newspaper of record De Standaard. After disappointing sales it was withdrawn from circulation after just 7 months.

References

External links

• nrc.next (in Dutch) – official website
• Weblog Next (in Dutch)