The future of local newspapers is set to take centre stage at the Trade Union Congress next week with calls for them to be treated in the same way as closure-threatened pubs.
A motion calling for a government-commissioned inquiry into the “crisis” engulfing the British regional press has been tabled by the National Union of Journalists.
The union believes it’s time the under-siege dailies – all of which recorded circulation falls for the second successive six-month period in the ABC figures published last week – were given“protected status.”
The NUJ has won debating time – on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of the TUC conference in Liverpool – to discuss utilising government legislation to treats newspapers in the same way as closure-threatened village shops, pubs, cinemas and libraries.
It wants the Localism Act 2012 to be used in the regional press industry in the same way local councils now determine “community assets” within their communities.
Like health and education, providing reliable and informative local news is a public service and communities need newspapers, says the NUJ.
At the moment newspaper owners can shut down a publication and keep hold of the title – leaving long-established publications at the mercy of media groups. As it is, a quarter of the UK no longer has a regional daily to call its own.
The union is pushing for the opportunity for under-threat local papers to have a six-month breather to enable other interested parties to make a bid for a publication which, at the moment, is shut down at a moment’s notice – without any referral process.
Delegates are hoping that the debate will be moved on to a UK-wide plane – where the matter is raised with all four parliaments and assemblies.
In Wales new co-operative newspaper models are in place. NUJ members have helped set up new titles based on novel models of ownership. Some have been sole proprietors filling a news gap where titles have been closed – such as the Caerphilly Observer.
The Port Talbot MagNet is an NUJ initiative which has established a members’ not-for-profit co-op. It has established an online and print presence to help plug the gap caused by title closures.
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“… to discuss utilising government legislation to treats newspapers in the same way as closure-threatened village shops, pubs, cinemas and libraries.”
A laudable idea and let’s hope it works. The survival of local newspapers is key to local and national democracy.
Let’s hope the NUJ has enough clout to achieve a positive result. Even with this hurdle passed, much will depend on the will of those in leadership positions to take notice. In the case of public libraries, the service is also (supposed to be) protected by the ‘Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964′. Yet closure-threatened libraries are NOT being protected due to the Secretary of State’s reluctance to invoke the legislation.
I bring the above to your attention because it illustrates how the current Westminster/Whitehall agenda is the major obstacle to saving any ‘public good’. When this Government refuses to engage with issues it is able to scupper every effort, including preserving vital newspapers, libraries and any other “asset” that is valued in our society. Unfortunately, it seems to be hell-bent on doing so. Maybe the NUJ can change that, for everyone’s benefit?
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When did the NUJ ever have “enough clout” to achieve anything?
Laudable this latest effort may be, but it has as much chance of victory as Ilkeston Town have of reaching the Premiership!
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Agree with oldhack. The NUJ just doesn’t have the clout to achieve anything these days. But its problems started decades ago when firebrand, lefty union leaders cried ‘wolf !’ almost every day over some petty cause or other. I myself became so disgusted with their self-serving rhetoric that I left the union, along with thousands of others. Now the golden days of local journalism are over and at a time when a powerful union is needed as never before to stand up for its embattled members, the dear old NUJ is just a sad shell of its former self.
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oldhack and Onlooker: would you rather sit on your hands — or do something positive?
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Local newspapers can survive by becoming more readable and controversial. Too many papers are now bland and weak-kneed instead of being bold in protecting their readers’ interests.
There has to be a ‘must buy’ element in every edition, with something to appeal to every age group.
Managements must see them as more than mere advertising vehicles. A good newspaper has a loud, clear voice and an identifiable mission.
More investment in editorial and less emphasis on short-term profits is the way forward.
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NJ, what is “positive” about banging your head against a brick wall with your “union” standing on the sidelines shouting encouragement?
Brassington, you are spot on in your analysis of what needs to be done. However, at the risk of sounding negative again, I very much doubt there is the collective will to implement the changes you suggest.
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Spot on brassington. Too many local rags rely on court cases, tributes to crash victims, planning rows etc ( same old fare). Get out of the office and do some leg work on proper journalism. Remember that?
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When I was a young reporter on a newspaper in the 1970s most of the editorial staff treated the newsroom like an extension of the local pubs and vice-versa. After all pubs and the people we met in them were the source of much of our news. Now both pubs and papers are being closed with distressing regularity. Of course we should fight to save both these once fine institutions but sadly I can’t see it happening.
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