A Devon community is rallying behind its local newspaper after parent company Archant announced plans to close its office and move staff out the town.

Editorial staff at the Exmouth Journal could be shifted to Archant’s centre in Exeter – around 15 miles away – meaning two receptionists and one part-time reporter would be made redundant.

Now the local community has begun lobbying Archant South West MD Bernard Driscoll to overturn his decision.

One reader has set up a petition page on Facebook which helpfully includes Mr Driscoll’s address and phone number should any reader wish to discuss the matter with him further.

A similar proposal has been tabled for the Sidmouth Herald’s office, in Sidmouth, which would see the further loss of three receptionists’ jobs.

One Archant staff member told HTFP: “The local community, council, police, fire officers, councillors and scores of people, who rely on the Journal for keeping its finger on the pulse of the town’s concerns, have begun lobbying Mr Driscoll to rethink the decision to close the local office.

“A Facebook page, ‘Keep The Exmouth Journal Office…in EXMOUTH!!’ has also been set up by one reader.

“The Journal’s three remaining reporters are concerned the newspaper – recognised by Archant CEO John Fry as an ‘industry leader’ – will suffer as a result of the move.

“The Journal has strong links with the community it serves which the reporters are worried they will lose once the office shuts.

“The reporters believe covering up-to-the-minute patch stories, police raids, fires, vox pops and generally having an ear to the ground will all disappear if the move goes ahead.”

Mr Driscoll said: “The current economic downturn has had a significant effect on advertising revenues and we are faced with the biggest increase in newsprint for many years.

“Clearly, we need to reduce our cost base, while trying to maintain the quality of our newspapers and the journalists who produce them.

“A local office is an ideal facility but in the event of its closure we will still seek to maintain the closest possible links with the town and its residents.

“Our proposal is to relocate all the reporters to our office near Exeter Airport, a distance of just over ten miles, where a number of journalists and photographers are already based, including the editor of the Journal.

“I believe that local newspapers are part of the fabric of local communities and closing the office will not change our commitment to producing the finest newspapers possible with an interest in all types of stories, big and small.”

Comments

Jambo (17/12/2008 11:03:34)
Good for them. It’s great to read that people still give a sht about their local rag.
I sincerely hope that their voices are heard.