Nicola Furbisher: Your plain speaking is much appreciated

With the weight of 260 years on our shoulders and the knowledge of just how The Yorkshire Post is regarded in the region, even after all the meticulous planning and attention to detail, I don’t mind telling you there was a little apprehension as we sent the first new-look edition to the press.

Had we gone too far, or not far enough? Was it a change for the better or for the worse?

We liked it. Would you?

Plain-speaking was what we wanted – and who better to give it to us straight than the good folk of Yorkshire (as a Brighouse lass, I feel qualified to state that with confidence).

“I’ve been a reader for 45 years and I think the new look is excellent,” said Ian Barnes, calling a special hotline we set up shortly after the relaunch.

“I was surprised how different it looked but I do see it as an improvement.”

George Fidler, a reader for 50 years, told me: “I like the new paper, I like the new print!”

Then he asked: “Have you printed it on better quality paper?” No, we hadn’t. Same paper, same printing press. “Well it feels lighter...better quality.” True, we had aimed for a cleaner, lighter feel...but lighter literally? Let me reassure you it’s as packed with weighty content as it always was.

Interestingly, some wanted to know why we hadn’t made a decision to convert the paper into a compact format.

“You’ve missed a golden opportunity there,” said one reader, a gentleman of 83. “A lot of people would prefer it if the YP went tabloid. It’s a right faff trying to turn the pages and folding it up in the right place. All my friends say the same.” A valid point – and I know there’ll be widely diverse views on this. But for now we preferred evolution to revolution.

This reader continued: “I tried The Independent because it was tabloid, easier to use.. but it wasn’t as good so I went back to The Yorkshire Post.” A valued reader indeed. I thanked him heartily.

Wendy Sherwood, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, took the trouble to write to us: “I think it is a great improvement. I don’t know, but I seem to be able to read it better. I always read the paper from one end to another. I go for it at 6am. It is an excellent paper.”

And a Mr Asquith called with a rallying message: “Keep ‘fighting for Yorkshire”. “You’re the only paper that pushes on behalf of the whole region,” he said. Thanks Mr Asquith, we aim to do just that.

Other comments we got on that very first day? Catherine Wilson commented that it appeared to be a “very woman-friendly edition” – a real boost to the team who have been working hard to ensure the YP has appeal across both genders and all ages.

But it is to one chap in particular I want to tip my hat to in this, the first of what will become a regular feedback column, keeping you updated with what we’re up to, sharing your views, answering your questions.

Jim Barton is in his 80s and has read the YP man and boy: “I’ve read it all my life,” he said. “I’ll read it until the day I die.”

And then he added: “I’ve told my wife, if I go first, she’s to put a Yorkshire Post with me in my coffin.” Hmm, an interesting new sales opportunity there!

Seriously though, I can’t say how grateful we’ve been for your contributions.

We know we don’t get it right all of the time... and it was useful to hear you take us task on some issues too: a spelling mistake, a problem with a crossword clue, a spoiled copy one reader received that was covered in creases and black ink.

It’s important you tell us when it goes wrong. If we can we’ll always try to put it right.

The aim, as part of our relaunch, is to be more engaging. To speak to you more – and to listen to you too. I plan to use this column to give regular updates about what we’re doing and I will host occasional telephone feedback sessions too.

This evening The Yorkshire Post editor Jeremy Clifford will host a live webchat to enable readers to ask him questions directly, about the redesign or about The Yorkshire Post in general.

To join in, go to yorkshirepost.co.uk/webchat from 6pm. You will be able to follow the debate in real time and add your questions and comments. You can also follow it on Twitter, using the hashtag #ypwebchat. Keep the feedback coming. It’s hugely appreciated.