With its 15th anniversary now behind them, the team at The Looker are preparing for an exciting new chapter, marked by ambitious expansion plans. As the community’s beloved newspaper continues to evolve, the editorial team, led by David Wimble, is seeking to balance growth with the need to maintain its local identity—a challenge faced by many small-town newspapers in today’s changing media landscape.

David Wimble, editor of The Looker, reflects on the paper’s humble beginnings: “When we started The Looker, our initial print run was just 1,000 copies, all in black and white. Our goal was simple: to serve the people of the Marsh, who, quite rightly, felt like they finally had their own paper. It was a local paper, by the community, for the community.”
The paper’s expansion, however, began to cause some challenges as it reached out beyond its initial audience. The Looker ventured into new areas, including the nearby town of Hythe, but not everyone was happy about the broader focus. “When we moved into Hythe,” Wimble explains, “some people felt like it was no longer ‘their’ paper. It’s a fine line—we need to write content that resonates with local people, but at the same time, we still need to make enough money to survive.”
To secure financial stability, The Looker had to broaden its scope to attract more advertisers. This meant incorporating content that appealed to a wider audience, including Folkestone-centric information, which didn’t always sit well with readers in other parts of the district. Recognising this challenge, Wimble and his team have devised a new plan: to create an entirely new publication aimed at the towns surrounding Folkestone, with a focus on giving Hawkinge a central role.
“This new publication will be called The Hurricane,” Wimble reveals, a name inspired by the area’s historical connection to aviation. Hawkinge, once home to a vital World War II airfield, serves as a fitting inspiration for the paper’s title. “Just like we named The Looker after the Looker huts, The Hurricane is a nod to Hawkinge’s heritage,” Wimble explains.
The trial run for The Hurricane is planned to be modest but impactful. The new paper will likely consist of 24 pages, with a print run in the thousands. Distribution will be handled through drop-off points at local shops, pubs, and stores around the region, allowing easy access for the community. Many of The Looker’s current advertisers have already expressed interest in placing ads in both publications, a promising start for the new venture. To make advertising accessible for local businesses, the rates for The Hurricane will be kept reasonable, especially given its smaller print run.
In addition to advertising, The Hurricane will feature contributions from local residents, with a focus on community stories and breaking news. Wimble is particularly excited about this aspect, stating, “We’re hoping to get people involved who are keen to share their stories. Local contributions will be a big part of The Hurricane. This is what’s known as ‘hyper-local’ journalism in the industry—focusing on news that matters to people living right here, in our specific area.”
Wimble is quick to point out that while The Hurricane will have its own identity, there will still be some shared content with The Looker, where appropriate. Universal features such as the gardening page, recipes, and other lifestyle content will be included in both publications. Additionally, for those who prefer digital access, the paper will be made available online, ensuring that readers can stay connected no matter where they are.
The launch of The Hurricane represents a strategic move by The Looker team to meet the diverse needs of their readers while ensuring the continued viability of local journalism. Wimble acknowledges that it’s a balancing act, but he remains optimistic about the future. “This is all about responding to the needs of our readers and our advertisers. The Looker has always been a community paper, and The Hurricane will carry that same spirit forward into new areas.”
As The Looker team looks ahead to this exciting new venture, they are encouraging the local community to get involved. Whether by submitting stories, offering feedback, or simply picking up a copy, Wimble and his team are eager to see the new publication become an integral part of the region’s media landscape.
For those interested in contributing or learning more about The Hurricane, the team at The Looker can be reached at their office via email at info@thelooker.co.uk. Whether it’s sharing your own local story or getting your business involved through advertising, the team is keen to hear from the community as they embark on this next chapter.
As Wimble concludes, “The Looker has always been about bringing people together, and with The Hurricane, we hope to extend that sense of community even further.”
This marks a significant turning point for The Looker, one that promises to build on its proud legacy while expanding its reach into new territories. For local readers and businesses alike, it’s a thrilling development in the local news scene—one that’s set to create fresh opportunities and even stronger connections across the region.