Government 'tightens rules' on council newspapers
I'm a member of the LGcommunications (Local Government) communications group and read with interest the story (there's one example of it here on the BBC website) about the Government's plans to tighten the rules on local councils publishing newspapers.
Frankly this is good news.
It will stop the tiny handful of councils who have managed to get the rest of us tarnished with the same brush, by taking on their local media and publishing something that can't be properly distinguished from another daily or weekly paper.
Given where the country's finances are now, this is a scandalous use of tax payers money by these councils.
Here's how LGcommunications reacted to the story:
David Holdstock, the Chairman of LGcommunications which represents local authority communications said today:“We welcome the government’s moves to clarify the rules but warn that it won’t solve the problems of local newspapers. We want newspaper groups to flourish but they’ll need to substantially improve their coverage of local life in many areas to win lost readers“These rules are aimed at minority of largely London based council newspapers, perhaps six in total, out of nearly 350 local authorities producing regular publications. The vast majority of council publications coexist peacefully with commercial newspapers and do a great job in telling their local communities how they can make the best use of local public services“We’re pleased that the government appear to have rejected the Newspaper Society’s attempts to stop the majority of council publications operating and taking small amounts of advertising, and has recognised that “more information” will be “syndicated online” rather than being forced into be carried in local newspapers“In a recent report the Audit Commission endorsed the role of local authority newspapers and magazines and in producing them councils are following best practice as recommended by the CLG and Local Government Association. “As part of this review we will be seeking a commitment from the newspaper industry that they will improve the quality of local reporting which has fallen substantially in terms of quality and quantity over the past decade. We want to see reporters returning to report on council meetings, newspapers based in their locality and not in regional hubs. “We will also be calling as part of this new settlement for government to allow local authorities to advertise statutory notices in the most cost effective media for the local taxpayer. Too often local newspapers simply don’t have the reach into the community and it would be more efficient and effective to put public notices online.“There are many good partnerships between local newspapers and their council. LGcommunications will continue to work with newspaper groups to help journalists scrutinise and illuminate the work of local authorities.Note to EditorsLGcommunications has published a report on the impact of local authority newspapers which can be found here http://www.lgcomms.org.uk/documents/PrvngCommsWrks-ImptOfcnclPubs.pdf less than 5% of all publications are published fortnightly or weekly – around seven publicationsThe Audit Commission report on council communications spending can be found here: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/Pages/councilperiodicalsandothercommunicationwiththepublic.aspxLGcommunications represents local authority communications teams and has a working group on this issue with representatives of the major newspaper groups.
