he Independent is set for a redesign, less than a year after it completed its switch from broadsheet to a tabloid format. The paper is increasing the number of columns on each page from six to seven as well as bringing supplements such as the daily Review section into the main body of the paper. Headlines at the top of pages will look slightly different, making the paper "a little like the Daily Mail", according to one media buyer who has seen dummy editions. The Independent is hoping the greater number of columns will allow it to increase advertising rates it is able to charge.

Last year its revenues were hit by a dispute with advertising agencies over rates for the new size - a row that ended in "an honourable draw", in the words of the company�s chief executive, Ivan Fallon. Fallon is looking for a 20 per cent growth in advertising revenues this year, on the back of a 23 per cent circulation increase last year.... more