Former business journalist launches his own venture

Former regional journalist and ex-Bournemouth Echo business editor, Andrew Diprose has returned back to journalism with the launch of his new venture, Dorset Biz News. He claims this venture will “fill a big yawning gap” for coverage in the county.

The site has been in development since May and was launched last week.

Diprose was the Echo’s business editor from 1991 to 1995 before later joining his old editor, Gareth Weekes, at PR company Deep South Media.

Andrew says, “We’re a content-led business news website aimed at founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs, MDs and directors – particularly in the professional sector (finance/law) – who feel they are not being served by current media outlets. Interestingly I had requests from two firms in the legal and accountancy sectors within hours of launching the site for my ad rate card. We’ll see if that turns into hard bookings from 1 November but content really is king. Advertising will only follow, in my opinion, if the business journalism on the site is good.”

“With 20 separate news categories, plus People and Biz Extra sections, it won’t be long before we become the place to go for all things business,” he added, “It’s amazing to think that in a county of more than 56,000 registered companies, it’s taken until 2019 for Dorset to have its own dedicated business news website. Well, that’s changed forever now.”

He concluded,“I was particularly pleased to receive a message from Peter Sands, the former Northern Echo editor, who has redesigned more than 90 newspapers and magazines and is highly respected in the industry.

“He said about www.dorsetbiznews.co.uk: ‘The website looks very smart – accessible and nice readable typography.’ Praise indeed from such a highly regarded journalist.”