Thursday, January 27, 2011
Councils must publish, but not Pravda
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/jan/27/council-run-newspapers-local-newspapers
There’s been a lot of sound and fury for some time over the issue of local councils publishing informational newspapers distributed free to local residents.
Under pressure local newspaper publishers have understandably complained about those which have sought advertising from local businesses to support these papers. That would normally come to them, so that complaint seems justified.
But saying they shouldn’t be able to publish them at all, or weekly, seems a bit much.
Frankly, the local press don’t have a God-given right to publish weekly newspapers in their areas including the publication of information supplied by the council. So if the council chooses to disintermediate them, especially if it’s because of inaccuracy or bias in previous reporting of their activities, then so be it.
Frankly, if their local papers are any good, readers will still buy them. If their sales are threatened by local council freesheets, they need to look at their own house rather than seek to have the opposition removed from the pitch.
There’s one area, though, where I have some sympathy with the papers. The publishing of official notices in local papers should continue to ensure enough people affected by the issues in them see them. While shifting them to councils’ websites may save them, and the council taxpayers, lots of money, it risks undermining local democracy and transparency — when was the last time you decided to have a quick look at planning applications on your council’s website?
Unfortunately that’s not the tone of the argument publishers have made to keep them. It’s seemed more like they feel they have some right to these revenues. But they don’t. It’s that kind of complacency which has led many of them into the trouble they’re now in.
If they spend more time working on making their papers appeal more to readers, they’d have to worry about ‘town hall Pravdas’ less.
That said, councils' papers must make sure they obey the same rules about balance in reporting as the best parts of the media do. To be seen to use taxpayers’ money to produce ‘spinsheets’ won’t do their reputations any good.
Labels: local council newspapers
