The UK Government has warned publishers that a significant number of magazines and websites will face tough competition as a result of electronic advances in the public sector.
The current administration is committed to ensuring that all Government services are available online by 2005. This is likely to have ramifications in a range of areas, including independent media and the labour market.
Last week, E-envoy, Andrew Pinder told a group of twenty publishers at a meeting at the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) that one of the “unintended consequences” of the government’s online strategy was that up to 2,300 print publications and some 200 standalone websites could come under pressure through loss of public sector advertising. He did however promise to raise awareness of the matter with the Government.
The PPA has called on the Government to adopt a partnering approach so that public sector bodies will work with rather than against publishers. It has already made a strong submission to the Cabinet Office Government Communications Review, which is chaired by Bob Phillis, chief executive of the Guardian Media Group. The task force hopes to secure an inquiry that will recommend measures for softening the blow to publishers’ revenues.
PPA chief executive Ian Locks commented: “We ask Government to approach to its plans for the future with an open mind on how best to work with existing publications in the independent sector, recognising their importance for reliable information, cost-effective procurement, strong services and sectoral support.
“We are pressing for Government to carry out a full impact assessment of its communications and eGovernment strategies on the independent support structure and sources of information and recruitment in the public sector,” he added.
An industry action group has been formed under the Digital Content Forum (DCF), which will meet for the first time on 11 June. Its objective is to draw attention to the implications of the Government’s e-strategies, in particular how they will affect recruitment advertising and the use of information.
Elsewhere, a meeting will take place with the Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Ecommerce and Competitiveness, on 9 July to discuss publishers’ concerns. In addition, awareness of the issues at stake will be raised with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) to secure discussion on the Information Age Partnership, chaired by Secretary of State for the Department of Industry, Patricia Hewitt.
