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Independent weekly gives away £10,000 worth of free ads

An independent weekly has given away £10,000 of free digital advertising space to independent firms on its patch.

The Southwark News has offered a month’s free advertising on its website to advertisers to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

So far, more than 30 companies have taken the News up on the offer.

Owners Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn, pictured, are also printing extra papers and getting them delivered with the local authority’s food parcels to vulnerable, shielded people each week.

Southwark News

Chris said: “We’re a small business ourself, so we feel your pain – and we want to try to help ensure that the lifeblood of south London survives and thrives beyond this difficult situation”, said Chris.

“Each business gets 75,000 page views over a month, with these free adverts taking the place of revenue-generating national advertising on our digital network.

“And it is 100pc free of charge – our designers are even creating the adverts for each business and then we upload and run them.

“Every time we go on our sites and see all those free adverts, we get a kick from feeling we might in some small way be helping them see this through – we really hope so.”

You can read all our coronavirus-related stories here.

3 comments

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  • April 22, 2020 at 9:32 am
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    Well done Chris,Kevin and the team in Southwark.These guys are showing true community spirit while the main groups merely talk about it.
    Times have changed and big publishers no longer have the monopoly on local news and advertising.If they pull out of communities they’re no longer part of the community, the doors are closed.Trying to convince the public that they’re “all in it together” and expecting them to pay to support non local and previously posted news is farcical, the public will support those who help and support them 24/7-365

    Talk is cheap, actions like this speak louder.
    Well done again

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  • April 22, 2020 at 10:43 am
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    A very generous and community spirited gesture, good on you Southwark News.

    Being a respected and valued local news provider isn’t about chasing clicks and ‘likes’ its about this kind of gesture so I hope all the small businesses you are helping and supporting through this difficult time support you once this is all over, I am sure they will.

    Long may you “survive and thrive” too!

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