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‘Local newspapers are not dead’ insists Satchwell

The boss of the Society of Editors has sought to rebuff industry doom-mongers who have predicted the death of local newspapers, by insisting they are not on their “last legs”.

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, has mounted a robust defence of the regional press industry, arguing that reports about the death of local newspapers were “seriously flawed”.

His piece, which appears in the new edition of the book What Do We Mean By Local?, acknowledged that some regional journalists and their companies were struggling, but claimed around two-thirds of the adult population still read a local newspaper every week.

Bob also insisted that the explosion of digital media should be “a cause for celebration fo journalists rather than a threat”.

In the book, he writes: “I do not doubt local and regional editors and journalists and some of their companies are struggling. It is understandable that they may feel the dark tunnel still seems extremely long for them.

“They and their staff have also suffered hard and long from deep cutbacks, some of which in themselves may prove to have been over-zealous and, indeed, to have added to the regional industry’s difficulties.

“Yes, there have been some harsh lessons and there are still more to come. But what happened to the prediction that half of our regional press would have closed by now?

“Why is it that around two-thirds of the adult population is still reading its local news mountain every week and what’s more the level of trust is maintained?

“And where have all those lucrative advertising pounds that gave local papers a licence to print money for decades been transferred? It has not all gone online or elsewhere so who is to say at least some of it could not be retrieved so long as the still-powerful case for the regional press is delivered properly?”

Bob adds that the economy will bounce back again and websites and searches could not bring in all the business in for advertisers.

He said the opportunities for local newspapers are as clear as ever and “it is only the effort and methods of delivery required that are different”, stressing that readers now expect to find their news when, where and how it suits them.

The Society of Editors boss said that newspapers need to keep pace with upcoming digital developments and this must be done by journalists who can see the possibilities for their audiences, rather than people in the IT department.

Bob wrote: “Every newspaper needs a digital correspondent to annoy us with the relentless pace of innovation. Some of his or her output will be terminally boring but we need to know about the spark that will light next year’s trend. We need trained communicators to ensure readers, viewers, listeners, surfers and, above all, editors know what is coming.”

He said that local newspaper owners should follow the lead of those who are planning new editions or platforms and should aim to increase paginations because people did not want to read “a sorry-looking reflection of a previously healthy and vibrant local paper”.

Added Bob: “Content requires journalists and editors who are highly skilled and motivated to use their inquiring minds and in-built determination to find ways to uncover and deliver the stories their public want and need to read.

“If they identify when and how they want to read them, combine comprehensive, accurate reporting with brave investigations and bold campaigns, their audiences will respond. If only more people would try it…”

His full piece can be read here.

6 comments

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  • August 22, 2013 at 10:34 am
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    Try some investment rather than employing the cheapeast and in the least amount numbers physically possible to turn out a very poor imitation of what was once was very good newspapers up and down the UK,then you might just might see a rise in readership

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  • August 22, 2013 at 10:45 am
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    This parrot is not dead. This is not a dead parrot.

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  • August 22, 2013 at 10:50 am
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    It would be helpful if companies employed someone to LEAD the digital content at each newspaper rather than, as in the case at my workplace, trying to get hard-pressed existing editorial staff with little experience and knowledge of video/website/digital, to be all things to all men.

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  • August 22, 2013 at 11:05 am
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    I don’t agree – local newspapers are dire now – bits of stories hung together with loads and loads of adverts, poor quality paper etc. etc.

    A lot papers now are just cobbled trogether ress releases and stories of local perverts and sex offenders.

    A sad reminder of their former glory when people woud actually queue to buy one. Now people turn to the web or local TV.

    But everything changes. As technology has developed and news can be flashed round the world in seconds, who wants to read a weekly paper full of old news?

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  • August 22, 2013 at 11:27 am
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    “…who wants to read a weekly paper full of old news?”

    When was the last time you were able to turn on TV and hear what is really happening local to you?

    Yes you can hear ‘local’ news but the local news in London, for example, is hardly pinpointed to my borough. The same goes with Calendar news in Yorkshire, which can go from Hull to Barnsley, from Todmorden to Goole.

    True, the internet has changed things, but there will be thousands of people who have an internet routine based upon a handful of websites.

    But I do admit, I have seen some horrific examples of locals that are packed with advertisements.

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  • August 27, 2013 at 4:15 pm
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    paperwatcher: “A lot papers now are just cobbled trogether ress releases…”

    Yes, and some of their spelling is pretty atrocious as well 😉

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