Date: 09 November 2009 UK GOVERNMENT ECHOES BROCKLEBANK’S CALLS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CONTINUE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING The UK Government has called on Scottish local authorities to continue advertising public notices in newspapers, instead of posting them online. This is a welcome call and could provide important support for the Scottish newspaper industry. It has been estimated that newspaper income across Scotland could drop by £10 million if public notices are transferred to the internet.
Commenting, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Ted Brocklebank, said;
“I am very pleased that the UK Government has intimated that it wishes to see local authorities continue to advertise public notices in newspapers, instead of posting them solely online. This repeats calls I have been making for some time. It is vital for public notices to continue to be displayed in newspapers to ensure that as many people as possible can view them whilst also allowing for continued financial support of Scotland’s beleaguered newspaper industry.
“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.
“What is particularly disappointing is that the Scottish Government has done nothing to assure the industry that Scottish Government advertising will continue to be placed in newspapers. This is despite Jim Mather hearing first hand from newspaper executives earlier in the year that advertising revenue from Government and local authorities is crucial to their businesses. The SNP Government must commit the Government to using newspapers to advertise public notices as a matter of urgency.
“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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