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Summit shows 'shared belief' in local news says NS

Newspaper Society director David Newell has welcomed the outcome of this week’s government-led summit on the future of the local media.

The summit, hosted by culture secretary Andy Burnham at the House of Commons on Tuesday, discussed a range of measures to preserve independent local news in the wake of economic downturn.

In an interview with a media magazine, Mr Burnham subsequently gave a cleare indication yet that the government is planning action to help the regional press.

“Unlike other industries, MPs have a very close understanding of both the importance and the strength of the local media industry. I think that goes for MPs of all colours. People see the urgency,” he said.

Meanwhile an event organised by the opposition Tories entitled Save Our Local Papers also agreed on the need for urgent action to protect independent, verifiable local news.

Issues raised at both events included the need for changes to media ownership regulation, the threat posed by local council publications, and cross-media provision of regional news.

Mr Newell said: “The summits have been useful in demonstrating a shared belief in the vital importance of independent, verifiable local news sources, a growing consensus on a range of solutions which would help safeguard the future of local news, and a recognition that the time to act is now.

“The local media industry is tackling many of these issues itself and in partnership with others as it continues its transition into a multimedia sector but there are steps that the government can take in the short term which would undoubtedly help.”

The government is expected to set out a way forward in the final version of Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report later this summer.

Comments

Sparky (01/05/2009 10:13:54)
Funny how Labour now seems keen to spring into action on this and other issues when there’s an election on the horizon.

Puzzled (01/05/2009 10:29:19)
Why aren’t you naming the “media magazine”?

Old school (01/05/2009 15:00:58)
Why are you afraid of crediting the source of a quote? “A media magazine?”. Andy Burnham was speaking to PressGazette.co.uk.
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=6&storycode=43552&c=1