A weekly editor is launching an independent rival to his old newspaper after successfully winning a contract for council advertising.
The free Thurrock Enquirer will hit the streets on Thursday as a sister paper to the Essex Enquirer and the East London Enquirer, with 25,000 copies being distributed at collection points like railway and bus stations.
Neil Speight has set up the new title after winning a tender contest against rival publications to secure an advertising contract from Thurrock Council.
He is a former editor of Newsquest title the Thurrock Gazette but left two years ago and now is editor of the independent Enquirer series.
Neil said: “I am delighted that the progression of independent publishing, hopefully creating a couple of jobs and creating newspaper competition, is continuing.
“I am very proud of the newspapers we publish and the launch of a specific edition in Thurrock is something that we have been considering for some time.
“We have a huge demand for the title there and the Essex edition we put into Thurrock flies off the shelves.
“The good thing is that this deal will help us continue to employ young reporters, train them well and give them the first leg up the ladder.
“And just maybe, if we can continue to grow, we will be able to keep them through the second and third rungs of their career as well.”
Neil said Thurrock Council had decided to put the contract, which covers all kinds of advertising by the authority, out to tender to find ways of cutting its budget.
Steve Lewis, the editor of the Thurrock Gazette, declined to comment.
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Good on yer, Speighty.
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Here here Phil! The legend refuses to die. Good luck speighty
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Here here Phil! The legend refuses to die. Good luck speighty
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Here here Phil! The legend refuses to die. Good luck speighty
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Here here Phil! The legend refuses to die. Good luck speighty
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I’ve often thought about the viability of opening a new title in an area that used to be well represented by a local newspaper until the asset strippers took everything good out of it and moved it to an industrial estate 25 miles from patch. Good luck to you, fella, hope it works out.
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Good luck Speighty. Independents look to be the way ahead to keep local newspapers alive. I’m sure it’ll work out well for you.
Good luck Neil !!!!!
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Now that council newspapers have been banned there are going to be lots more opportunities like this. Councils are offering exclusive advertising contracts left, right and centre. Presumably the Newspaper Society will be lobbying Government to ban council’s from subsidising newspapers in this way.
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Steve Penney is right. Local papers need to get away from the crappy IT systems, dreadful staffing levels and greed of the big companies that is ruining them. if only…..
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Good luck Neil. Glad to see the old ideals are still alive and well.
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What?! The council is simply paying off an independent to produce a council newspaper. You will see more of this as Eric Pickles tightens rules on council newspapers. Speight has sold out.
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I’ve worked with neil Speight before and if you think he would sell out you are talking nonsense. Read what has been reported elsewhere where he speaks of the fierce independence. I’ve had a look at the first paper online and he carries several stories, including his front page lead, having a pop at the council.
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