Local newspaper publishers should not rest on their laurels, but concentrate on core business rather than branching out into other media, Johnston Press chief executive Tim Bowdler has said.

Speaking at the World Association of Newspapers Congress in Dublin, the regional press heavyweight, who is also president of the Newspaper Society, said that despite socio-economic change, life in the UK remains local – and publishers should not ignore this.

He said high quality local newspapers were still in demand, but to maintain this they would need to invest in good journalism and have a sound understanding of their local communities supported by regular market research.

A willingness to invest in increased pagination and special interest supplements was also important, said Tim, who claimed the approach was beginning to pay dividends on some of Johnston’s daily titles.

But he also said he believed that newspaper publishers should remain foucused on the medium, with cross-ownership not neccessarily the way forward.

He said: “The best returns are made from acquiring other local and regional newspaper businesses, from consolidation, rather than diversifying into other media.

“As markets become more competitive, in my view it becomes even more important to focus on your core business.

“I have a passionate belief in the future of local and regional newspapers.

“But, I am not complacent and if we are to secure that future, we have to adapt to the structural changes which are impacting our market places.”

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