A government minister is to hold round-table talks with industry figures and union bosses on the future of regional journalism.
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, says he wants to ensure a “vibrant and brilliant future” for the regional press ahead of discussions.
Among those attending the seminar on November 6 will be the National Union of Journalists and the Newspaper Society.
The NUJ says it hopes the meeting will be the start of a strategic plan for a “vibrant, plural and well-resourced local press”.
Mr Vaizey announced he will be holding the talks during a parliamentary debate on culture, media and sport.
He said: ““I am pleased that I will be sitting down with the National Union of Journalists for a seminar on local newspapers because I for one want to do everything I can to ensure that they have a vibrant and brilliant future.”
Members of other government departments will also be present at the talks, to be held at the Department for Cuulture, Meida and Sport.
The Newspaper Society, which represents regional press publishers, has also confirmed its attendance.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “This is a great opportunity for the industry to come together to look at how newspapers can continue to produce quality journalism, serve their local communities and play a role in local democracy.
“The transition to a digital model in local papers is providing new opportunities, but also challenges.
“This meeting should be the start of a strategic plan for a vibrant, plural and well-resourced local press.”
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Looks like more talk and no action as local-hero editors and their teams around the country continue to bite the dust in the cause of commercial greed. Where is the dosh coming from for a strategic plan to save what’s left of the regional press? Distrust the use of the buzzwords: vibrant, brilliant and challenging when it comes to our livelihoods.
MPs tend to be sympathetic over what’s happening to their local journals of record. After all, what appears in print represents a good chunk of their legacy. They are in the driving seat. Why don’t they gang up and twist some arms? Very interested to know how fellow retired, semi-retired and working journos see the shape of things to come?
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What arms can they twist? The public’s? Force them to buy print? more and more people don’t want print.
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Over the hill. MPs have vested interest. They use their weekly rags as propaganda vehicles, with barely a word edited and some downright bias from some so-called editors who have enjoyed too many free lunches.
So forget the MPs.
Just ask the boards of JP, TM, Newsquest et al if they plan to invest in proper staff levels to save newspapers. If not, talk is cheap and utter waste of time.
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