Keepin’ it local
Wales Business — By Adam Higgitt on September 30, 2009 2:55 pmRob Williams of The Mabiblogion doesn’t post very often, but when he does he is usually worth reading. Yesterday’s, on the subject of the recently announced newspaper closures in Neath and Port Talbot is a case in point; a powerful corrective to the politicians’ claim that these titles are worth retaining at any cost (even if he is a little unkind toward WalesHome.org contributor Bethan Jenkins).
I know too little about the titles in question to comment on the merit of Rob’s argument but, on the day when Prince Philip is reported to have criticised large retail centres and the supermarkets for damaging village life and rural economies you do have to ask whether the quality of journalism is the key issue here.
People like local provision, and they are prepared to tolerate often lower quality services and products in exchange for the special element that comes from knowing the person with whom you are doing business, or from being well acquainted with the issue or area under discussion. The problem occurs when this tolerance is stretched beyond breaking point, and the quality gap between the local and the generic/multiple becomes so great as to make patronage of the latter a no-brainer. Other countries, such as France, retain stringent limitations on out-of-town retail activity, what their supermarkets can sell, and when. The result is that the pattiserie/boulangerie and Saturday fresh produce market continue to thrive in towns, villages and hamlets where such establishments have long since died in Wales. The price is the convenience we crave, and perhaps the quality we take for granted. If localism is to return, as the Conservatives tell us they want it to, we may have to adjust our expectations in these areas downwards. A bad local paper may be better than no local news.
Tags: journalism
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2 Comments
There is no doubt that the media landscape like that of the town centre is changing rapidly. Without practical regulatory intervention owners of local titles will continue to conspire in the demise of the local newspaper as they strive to maintain their profit margins that have historically been in excess of 30%.
However, the fatal blow to the likes of the Neath and Port Talbot Guardians will come from the failure of the combined political community to take them seriously as an outlet for effective political communication.
How many press officers, public affairs advisor and the like have spent time supporting this sector through cultivating good local links or offering relevant press releases? The focus of far too many media operations within political parties, NGOs and trade unions is Cardiff Bay. It might have nice bars and restaurants to meet your journo mate in, but the vast majority of Wales lives outside the village. If we are not careful all we will have left in terms of print media in Wales is a merged Western Mail and Daily Post, which combined sells less than 67,000 copies, and ends up being no more than a papur bro for the Bay village.
Thanks Adam. I think you make a number of valid points. However, what is significant is the recent decline in local newspaper standards. I think most people accept that they are not going to get ground-breaking investigative journalism or tremendous scandals exposed in their local paper.
The point is that there are many things that the local press could have continued to get right but didn’t. By abandoning quality and reducing standards they have tested the relationship to breaking point, as you put it.
I doubt very much that people are willing to lower their standards any further. The proof is there for all too see in lower circulation figures and the continued drift away from print titles.