Politicians and journalists have called for all ten local authorities in Greater Manchester to place more local press public notices.

More than 60 people attended a public meeting in the city’s town hall last Friday to debate MEN Media’s plans to axe 78 editorial roles and centralise some functions.

The meeting heard that local newspapers were in effect being penalised by councils such as Salford who had retaliated to what they regard as unfavourable coverage of council stories by withholding advertising from some titles.

Deputy leader of Manchester City Council Jim Battle told the audience he wanted all ten authorities to put their money into helping save local newspapers and journalists threatened with redundancy.

NUJ vice-pesident Peter Murray said: “There’s now widespread agreement that defending jobs in print, in broadcasting, or in new media is part of a fight to retain strong public services, under attack from executives who are more concerned about their balance sheets, shareholders or government targets than they are about our role as journalists to scrutinise and question those who hold public office.”

Yesterday, the Manchester Evening News’ NUJ chapel took out a full-page ad in its sister national title The Guardian decrying the cuts and claiming its profits are keeping the Guardian afloat.