UK: regional newspapers remain primary source of local news

Posted by John Burke on May 11, 2007 at 1:57 PM

A survey conducted by Press Gazette shows that the regional press is still the most popular medium through which adults across the UK get their local news. 52% of respondents choose newspapers for regional news, more than three times those who chose the BBC, the next most popular choice.

Chairman of the Society of Editors, Paul Horrocks, attributed the popularity of the regional press to its pertinence in the daily lives of local readers.

The National Union of Journalist's general secretary Jeremy Dear said: "Falling advertising revenues have been used as an excuse for underinvestment, but it's clear that the public does want quality journalism and will buy local news if it is of a high standard.

41% of young readers, 18-24, agreed with their elders about the regional press for their primary source of local news, but 17% said they prefer the BBC's website.

Society of Editors director Bob Satchwell thinks that concerns about the regional press have been "unfounded" but that "what they've got to do is to adapt to the need to find the most appropriate methods of delivering content. The most important thing is they have to maintain the quality, scale and scope of that content. Those organisations that invest in journalism and ensure that they use all the available platforms to (publish) that content will survive."

Source: Press Gazette

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