PORTLAND (AP) – A free daily newspaper is being launched in Maine’s largest city, possibly by the end of this month.

The Portland Daily Sun plans to start out as a 16-page tabloid, with 5,000 copies in circulation. Editor Curtis Robinson said it will focus on hard news and initially will have two full-time reporters working from what he called a “virtual newsroom.”

The new daily will be published by the Conway Daily Sun of New Hampshire. Its publisher, Mark Guerringue (Ga-RANG’), said he had no plans to compete with the Portland Press Herald. Said Guerringue: “We’re the ant. The Press Herald is the elephant.”

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com

AP-ES-01-07-09 1635EST