London Mayor Boris Johnson pledged to fight any plans to launch more council newspapers in the capital during a reception for local editors.

One of Mr Johnson’s first acts on taking office last year was to scrap the Greater London Authority’s own newsletter.

But some of the 32 London boroughs, who are independent of the GLA, have continued to run their own publications, which local press bosses claim are designed to compete with them for readers and advertising.

Mr Johnson told a reception of editors and executives from newspaper publisher Archant London he would fight against boroughs launching more publications at the expense of council taxpayers and the local press.

The reception, at the GLA’s City Hall headquarters gave the news chiefs the chance tell the mayor some of the issues concerning them and their readers.

Editors present were Malcolm Starbrook, East London, Geoff Martin, North London, Melody Foreman, Kent, Mark Sweetingham, Essex and group managing editor Richard Thomson along with Archant London MD Enzo Testa and the regional director of London’s Archant Life magazines Jeremy Moreton.

Mr Testa said: “Archant London is one of the main players in the London newspaper scene so it was important for us to strength our links with the team responsible for running the city.

“I’m sure we left Mr Johnson with a better understanding of some of our real concerns, not least of which is the growth of taxpayer-funded council papers.”

Comments

FAST WOMAN (24/08/2009 10:07:19)
So, can we take it from this that Archant no longer have any contracts to print council newspapers in London or elsewhere?

Chris Youett, Esq. (24/08/2009 16:28:38)
As a journalist himself, Bojo ought to know better. The main reason why many councils have set up their own newspapers – offering journalists decent pay & conditions – is because most media employers only see having proper political desks as a cost, not a means to ramping up circulation. Boris urgently needs to check out the offices of all the local papers to see just how many empty desks there are. Regarding subsidies, aren’t these the same employers who hapily print council newspapers and accept large chunks of council advertising every week?