A fresh row has erupted over local authority newspapers over a council’s plans to remove all its advertising from the local press.

North East Lincolnshire Council wants to withdraw all its advertising from the Grimsby Telegraph and Scunthorpe Telegraph and instead place them in its own monthly newspaper.

But the move has sparked heavy criticism with the Grimsby Telegraph publishing more than 20 letters from residents angry about the plan.

Now Mark Price, managing director of Northcliffe-owned Grimsby and Scunthorpe Media Group which publishes the two titles, has penned an open letter in the paper setting out his concerns.

Mr Price said the plan to remove the ads would add to the “severe strain” on local papers that has been caused by the recession.

“We believe that, in print and on the internet, we offer the local authority the widest audience for their recruitment advertising,” he said.

“We also believe it is important that organisations such as North East Lincolnshire Council support independent local media. As local newspaper publishers, we have a deep commitment to and passion for the community we serve.

“GSMG will co-operate fully with this review in the hope that the two organisations can work together for the benefit of the people of North East Lincolnshire in order to help the council to reach a conclusion that best serves the interests of local taxpayers.”

The Liberal Democrat-run council had initially decided to shift all its advertising, largely recruitment, into its monthly Linc Up newspaper, which costs £86,000 annually to print and distribute.

Following Conservative oppositon the idea is now being looked at by a select committee.

Comments

David Nicoll (13/08/2009 13:14:59)
Typically short sighted – do they really think their ‘in house’ stuff gets the same level of readership/trust that their local newspapers do? If so, they won’t have checked with their customers! Independent local media has a much higher and active readership. (Perhaps that is the problem for the Council….)

Marco Chandler (13/08/2009 14:55:02)
Just to clarify your story here, the council is not withdrawing all advertising from the local newspaper, it is just withdrawing recruitment advertising (other non-recruitment advertising, which is worth far more in total, isn’t being stopped). Hope this helps.

FAST WOMAN (14/08/2009 13:57:39)
And what’s going on in Wigan, where there seems to be an urgent need for the town hall to employ FOUR full time communications officers and an advertising executive. Plus a part time ‘accessible communications officer’.
According to ads on the Guardian site its all about the ‘roll out of its Wigan Life place shaping brand’.

Jonah (17/08/2009 14:06:34)
To the best of my knowledge, Linc up is printed by Harmsworth Printing, and distributed by the Hull Daily Mail and Grimsby Telegraph distribution teams (both owned by the Northcliffe Group)it seems ironic therefore that they are complaining that the council want’s to advertise in it’s own newspaper in order to pay them for their services – talk about wanting your cake and eating it!!!!

Steve (03/09/2009 14:08:28)
Every council has a duty to taxpayers to provide services as cheaply as possible and recruitment advertising is needlessly expensive given the alternatives. Councils must also spend money on resident info magazines to keep up with govt targets on keeping the public informed. Simply put, cutting one will fund the other.
The newpapers are only interested in shareholder dividends and circulation stats so why should a public body prop up a private enterprise, especially one which will give it a kicking as often as feasible.
Kudos to the council for doing this – Price can plead for NE Lincs support but he knows GSMG can not afford to lose the public sector.