LETTER: Regional press threatened
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Chris Oakley and others
Sir: The Government's Broadcasting Bill will be published this month. We fear that the Bill is to be based on an out-moded view of the regional newspaper industry. It will block the industry's natural development into regionally based media companies by preventing regional and local newspapers from owning radio and television stations within their circulation areas.
Few, if any, regions are now served by only one newspaper and one broadcaster. The allegation that local newspapers are regional monopolists is simply not supported by the evidence. We are in increasing competition for readers and advertisers with national newspapers, magazines and other print media, with the BBC and commercial broadcasters, with cable, with direct mail and the new electronic media.
The Bill is likely to allow our competitors, including national newspapers, whose sales might outnumber our own in a particular licence area, to buy a local radio or television station, which we would be prevented from owning. This would undermine regional newspapers, which would be barred from competition, ultimately resulting in the loss of the comprehensive regional editorial and commercial services that they have traditionally provided for their local communities. The regional plurality that the Government is concerned to preserve will ultimately be lost.
We hope that the Government will revise its proposals in order to maintain a level playing-field to enable our companies to compete fairly, within local markets, with all other media, including national newspapers. The Government's Broadcasting Bill must not bar unfairly the regional newspaper company from being part of the new information age.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Oakley (Group Chief Executive, Midland Independent Newspapers plc); Freddy Johnston (Chairman Johnston Press plc, Edinburgh); Robin Burgess (Managing Director, CN Group, Carlisle); Philip Graf (Chief Executive, Trinity International Holdings plc, Chester); Ray Tindle (Chairman, Tindle Newspapers Ltd, Farnham)
The Newspaper Society
London, WC1
2 November
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments