Regional Press Prospers But NS Is Wary Of Complacency

The Newspaper Society is triumphant that 1997 has been a ‘renaissance’ for the regional newspaper industry. The Society’s director David Newell said: “It has been a tremendous year for the local and regional press: advertising revenues are up, newsprint prices are low, sales are stabilising, new ventures and alliances abound, and profits are rolling in. But there is no room for complacency. It is more important than ever for the industry to continue to work together if it is to maintain its strength and vigour throughout 1998 and beyond.”

Newell expresses concern that in the following year the regional newspaper industry is able to capitalise on this growth by:

• Newspapers involving all their readers in the current, fundamental debates over citizens’ freedom of expression.
• Advertisers and agencies planning their media spend whilst remembering that regional and local newspapers are the commercial and marketing media gateways to their consumers.
• The Government using the Presidency of the European Union in 1998 to underline the importance of newspapers in the development of Europe’s information industries and to remove regulatory obstacles to their growth as integrated media businesses.
• Media trade associations in Europe and the UK entering into adventurous strategic alliances to improve the representational muscle and cost effectiveness, at the same time as retaining their independence.

Newspaper Society: 0171 636 7014