THE Office of Fair Trading is looking at the effects on Britain’s struggling local press by town halls running their own free newspapers out of council tax. It is part of a review into press ownership and follows a consultation paper in which the competition watchdog invited the regional publishing industry to submit evidence about the public sector media
THE Office of Fair Trading is looking at the effects on Britain’s struggling local press by town halls running their own free newspapers out of council tax.
It is part of a review into press ownership and follows a consultation paper in which the competition watchdog invited the regional publishing industry to submit evidence about the public sector media.
The OFT has so far held meetings with the Newspaper Society and the newly formed Local Media Alliance which have both raised fears about the impact town halls are having on the already-fragile regional media.
RISING PRESSURE
Publishers are under increasing pressure from public sector bodies developing their own media outlets such as newspapers and online TV channels paid for out of council tax, it has been told.
The local authorities that submitted a response to the OFT investigation argued that their own communications were important to ensure accountability.
Some said it was important to make a distinction between reducing their ad costs in local newspapers and directly competing for advertising revenue in the open market.
BATTLEGROUND
The situation in East London is becoming more of a battleground.
Barking & Dagenham council is to launch a free-sheet which is to carry council advertising rather than in the local press. Neighbouring Newham is now considering launching its own free newspaper.
Both follow the example of Tower Hamlets which has been running its weekly East End Life launched a few years ago in direct competition with the long-established East London Advertiser which marked its 122nd anniversary in November. It is paid for out of council tax—both printing and distributing to nearly every property in the East End.
The Advertiser has been running its own campaign with Government ministers, now backed by Opposition local councillors this week.
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