Date: 05 January 2010 BROCKLEBANK SUPPORTS FIFE HERALD OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC NOTICES BEING ADVERTISED SOLELY ONLINE Commenting on the Fife Herald’s opposition to the Scottish Government’s plans for changing the law to allow public notices to be advertised electronically rather than in newspapers, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Ted Brocklebank, said;
“I am firmly against the Scottish Government’s plans to allow public notices to be advertised electronically rather than in newspapers. It is vital for public notices to continue to be displayed in newspapers to ensure that they are viewed by as many people as possible whilst also allowing continued financial support of Scotland’s beleaguered newspaper industry.
“The UK Government has already called on Scottish local authorities to continue advertising public notices in newspapers instead of posting them online. The SNP Government must follow suit and reconsider its plans as a matter of urgency. Only last year Jim Mather heard first hand from newspaper executives that advertising revenue from Government and local authorities is crucial to their businesses.
“Newspapers could lose £10 million annually if local authorities decided to advertise solely online. This would be a massive blow to an industry where the future of many operators is already questionable.
“The newspaper industry is a major employer in Fife and I have uncovered that Fife Council spent over £1.8 million in recruitment and services advertising in 2007-2008. This revenue stream from Council advertising must continue if the newspaper industry is to maintain its presence and importance in the Kingdom.”
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