A new Catholic family newspaper, the Voice Today, will arrive on the news stands tomorrow and will be available in churches this weekend.
The weekly tabloid-format publication will cost €1 and will concentrate on "culture, faith and family" issues, according to its editor, Mr Simon Rowe.
Mr Rowe (31) is the former editor of the Irish Catholic. The deputy editor is Ms Rosemary Swords, a theology graduate and former contributor to another Catholic newspaper Alive! Mr Pat Quinn, former circulation manager with the Irish Catholic, has also joined the Voice Today.
Asked if the newspapers were in direct competition, Mr Rowe said he did not see it that way. "There's a gap in the market and we are going for it." He had "huge respect" for the Irish Catholic but there was plenty of room for the two publications. The Irish Catholic had a mostly over-65 readership while the Voice Today would be aimed at young parents and families in the 35-55 age group.
With 65 per cent of Catholics attending weekly Mass, Mr Rowe said there was huge scope to tap into the younger market. The publication hopes to sell about 10,000 copies a week while the Irish Catholic sells 26,000. Columnists will include Mr John Lonergan, the Mountjoy prison governor, Mr Ronan Mullen, Irish Examiner columnist and former spokesman for Cardinal Desmond Connell, and Mr George Weigel, Pope John Paul's biographer.
Mr Rowe said it would be bright and confident and would have an ethos which would "support values which promote common-sense building blocks on which family life can flourish". It would not be a "goody-goody" publication but it would concentrate on positive role models at local and national level and try to focus on the positive, he said.
"People have lost faith with many institutions and organisations and we are trying to restore some confidence in people and remind people of the many good things out there," he said.
The first issue will have an interview with athlete Catherina McKiernan. About a third of the paper will be news and analysis. There will be parenting and entertainment and culture sections.
Voice Today has raised €250,000 and has 15 investors including Mr Seán Ascough of Catholic group Youth 2000 and an economic consultant, Mr Leo Goodstadt.
Mr Rowe said it was not endorsed by the bishops but had their "tacit approval" as they had allowed it to be sold in churches.
Meanwhile, the Irish Catholic has named Mr Rowe's replacement as editor. Mr Gary O'Sullivan (33) will take up his appointment shortly. He is currently communications manager for the Jesuits, but has also worked as a journalist with the Irish Catholic.
