Kyodo News, Mainichi plan tieup

Kyodo News and Mainichi Newspapers Co. said Thursday they will form an editorial and business tieup April 1.

It will be the first domestic alliance of a news agency, its member regional newspapers and a major daily with a nationwide circulation. It comes amid a worsening business environment for the print news media.

Kyodo and Mainichi Newspapers can "reinforce each other's competence and presence through efficient business collaboration," Kyodo News President Satoshi Ishikawa said.

Mainichi Newspapers President Yutaka Asahina said the alliance will "enable Mainichi reporters to cover news in an original and in-depth manner" as they will be freed from reporting official government and business announcements.

Under the agreement, the Mainichi Shimbun will use Kyodo News' domestic and international news reports for its newspaper, starting next April. The paper has already been using Kyodo overseas reports.

The alliance will bring the total circulation of the Mainichi Shimbun and Kyodo News' 56 member firms to over 30 million.

Kyodo, the Mainichi and other member papers will strive to upgrade local news coverage, according to the accord.

The agreement also envisages cooperation among the three parties in a variety of operations, including symposiums, athletic and cultural events, printing and sales promotion of newspapers.