A former regional editor says the government should spend more money advertising public notices with hyperlocal publishers – claiming it could change the industry “overnight”.
Graham Breeze, left, former editor-in-chief and publishing director of NWN Media in North Wales, has called on both central government and local councils to review where they advertise statutory notices, and wants hyperlocal publishers to lobby for greater recognition.
Graham co-founded MyTown Media, which owns and publishes the MyWelshpool and MyNewtown news sites in Mid Wales, in 2010.
His comments come after Cardiff University’s Centre for Community Journalism announced that it had launched a new trade body for hyperlocals, an idea Graham originally touted three years ago.
He said: “While there was a great deal of support for our proposals the timing was probably not right. But the timing is perfect today with hyperlocal news sites popping up all over the country, changing the local media landscape and offering new opportunities.
“We have to lobby government, along with county and town councils, for greater recognition of the hyperlocal sector. We will never be able to attract their revenues as individuals but together as a national body we will be able to convince procurement departments that there is another alternative to print.
“The hyperlocal industry would change overnight if only a small amount of government and council spend on public notices came our way. Forming a national body would ensure we can demand fair treatment.
“A hyperlocal news industry is not the future. It is here now, springing up in every corner of the UK with viewing and readership figures spiralling upwards while newspaper sales continue to crash downwards.”
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
All businesses want maximum return for their ad revenue and will go where they have the best chance of response or where they will reach a specific targeted audience and that’s not in the established regionals these days with their shocking sales figures and continuously declining readership/ advertising bases.
As long as the independent publishers can satisfy those first two points they have a chance.
Councils and government departments voted with their feet once the restrictions were lifted as to where they could advertise and quickly deserted the big groups who had taken advantage of the monopoly they had by charging extortionate ad rates for PN just ‘because they could’ This arrogant ‘they HAVE to advertise with us ‘ complacent attitude has come back to haunt them now there’s freedom of choice to decide which medium and publications to use.
it’s the same with the recruitment ad sector which has also walked away after years of being taken advantage of resulting in huge revenue losses for the once big publisher who assumed this level of easy revenue would always be there.
I recall many ad reps and managers gloating about having this guaranteed money rolling in and treating the advertiser with contempt with their ‘they need us more than we need them’ attitude and being paid huge bonuses just for taking the bookings, so yes let’s hope some of this money finds its way to the independents who are providing a good community news service at a fair price and without the complacency and disregard for the businesses and communities they serve
Report this comment
Owner of hyperlocal websites calls for extra cash for hyperlocal websites.
Report this comment
If they pull the plug on public notices in regionals, it won’t be to spend it with hyperlocals. It’ll just be the end of a lucrative money-spinner and another nail in the coffin.
Report this comment
hyperlocals are at least local. Too many local newspaper websites contain far too much general news way off the patch. Anything for a click I suppose but it annoys readers-viewers.
Report this comment