A council mag that's altogether better (From The Northern Echo)
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A council mag that's altogether better
9:47am Wednesday 3rd February 2010 in
Just received a copy of Durham County News, Durham County Council's monthly magazine.
Credit where credit's due - it's bright and lively with an emphasis on information.
And, unlike lots of other council publications, the only adverts in it are council-related.
There's no sign of going after commercial advertising which undermines local newspapers.
It just goes to show it can be done and - to steal the council's own slogan - 'altogether better' than most.
Meanwhile, it's been revealed that Salford City Council is spending £28,000 a month - yes, a month - on its magzine. The figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act. Absolutely scandalous, isn't it?
Comments(3)
Peter Barron
says...
1:26pm Thu 4 Feb 10
darlosocialist wrote:Yes, fair point. It was just so refreshing to see a council mag without any commercial advertising but, of course, that adds to the cost for the taxpayer. The answer is to review the whole thing. A local newspaper, whether its paid, free or online, gets to just about everyone. It adds up to an unrivalled readership and its independent. Councils shoud stick to pure information - not 'news' through the eyes of the controlling group - and support local newspapers which cover their affairs when no one else bothers.
By selling ad space, council mags can reduce their costs to the taxpayer whilst at the same time giving people the information they need on local services. On the one hand you say it's good to be ad free, on the other you moan about the cost of council magazines ;-)
Peter Barron
says...
1:28pm Thu 4 Feb 10
Peter Barron wrote:P.S. And come on, no more of these daft pseudonyms. Say who you really are.
darlosocialist wrote: By selling ad space, council mags can reduce their costs to the taxpayer whilst at the same time giving people the information they need on local services. On the one hand you say it's good to be ad free, on the other you moan about the cost of council magazines ;-)Yes, fair point. It was just so refreshing to see a council mag without any commercial advertising but, of course, that adds to the cost for the taxpayer. The answer is to review the whole thing. A local newspaper, whether its paid, free or online, gets to just about everyone. It adds up to an unrivalled readership and its independent. Councils shoud stick to pure information - not 'news' through the eyes of the controlling group - and support local newspapers which cover their affairs when no one else bothers.
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darlosocialist says...
1:24am Thu 4 Feb 10
On the one hand you say it's good to be ad free, on the other you moan about the cost of council magazines ;-)