The editor of the Wells Journal has vowed not to bow to pressure from advertisers over editorial decisions after a nightclub manager withdrew an advert from the paper.

Terry Clare, manager of the Kudos nightclub in Wells, cancelled a £500 half-page advert because he was unhappy at the Journal's coverage of a disturbance outside the venue.

He claimed the paper's article associated the nightclub with the trouble.

But editor Philip Welch defended the report of the incident in a comment column which he devoted to the importance of keeping editorial and advertising content separate.

Philip told readers: "My policy is that editorial decisions must not be influenced by advertising considerations and the vast majority of our advertisers accept this, perhaps after a little discussion.

"My view was that we had fairly reported the concerns of local residents about the trouble in Wells after the nightclub closed.

"It was made clear that Kudos itself is well run by Mr Clare.

"However, resisting advertisers' pressures is more difficult for editors on those free papers and magazines where ads are sold on the understanding that the editor will print free plugs disguised as news."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk