A council has denied it is trying to compete with the local press after rebranding their website as a “virtual newsroom”.
Moray Council, in North-East Scotland, says it is in “no way” attempting to replace existing newspaper outlets, which it describes as a “valuable part of the democratic process.”
The redesign will see all press releases, related news items, pictures, films and blogs uploaded to the site.
Newspapers which report on the council’s activities include the Press and Journal, Aberdeen, and The Northern Scot.
In a press release announcing the new site, the council’s communications officer Peter Jones said: “Moray is well-served by our local press.
“They invest in trained reporters who attend local courts and council meetings and provide an independent, objective report on what goes on. They’re a valuable part of the democratic process and we are not trying to compete with that.
“What this newsroom does is provide a platform that allows people better and easier access to what the council believes to be newsworthy or interesting, and they can comment or ask questions too.”
The announcement further states the “newsroom” will not be used to promote any particular political viewpoint or party.
Readers of the site will be able to leave comments, which could be responded to by the authority’s chief executive, councillors or a service manager.
Councillor Stewart Cree, pictured above left, the authority’s leader, said: “I’ll happily respond to a comment on any of the articles and releases, and we can allow greater sharing of the content such as images and film, which helps publications rom further afield that pick up on our press releases.
“It all helps promote Moray to a wider audience, which can only be for the good of all.”
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Go for it people, inundate him with questions and comments.
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I don’t think anyone has actually complained?
Anyway, all for organisations communicating directly with the people they serve. When done properly absolutely the right thing to do. Still a role for newspapers of course, but no longer the guardians of news.
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And of course the public is so incredibly stupid that it will be completely unable to tell the difference between a council website and a local newspaper website.
Mind you, given some of the regional newspaper content I’ve seen recently perhaps there is an increasing risk after all [deep sigh]…
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I am the Peter Jones in the report. As a former newspaper hack the last thing I would want is to accelerate the demise of papers. What we’re doing is telling our story; the fourth estate’s role is to present a more balanced version. I have faith that the public can tell the difference. In addition, reporters are under more pressure to fill space in less time, and the newsroom site provides pictures, copies of reports and other resources that I know helps them do their job. So far all the reporters we deal with regularly like the development.
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Does it really matter that much anymore?
There are few newspapers out there with the resources to hold their local authority to account, and even fewer who still possess the ability to keep the readership informed.
Give the councils enough slack to keep residents up to date at least.
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Local papers sending reporters to council and court. Wish that happened everywhere . my district council in Sussex does not see a reporter from one blue moon to next. As for court…..
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