The post you are reporting:
Even with a cover price at £1. Weekly sales incomes of £7k and £11K (or thereabouts) respectively, does not bode well for the future.
The revenue from advertising must count for a great deal in the Local Newspaper business, yet increases in cover price mitigate against sales, which in turn, must reduce advertising revenue...and so it goes on.
This downward trend is not confined to local press alone. The nationals too are feeling the pinch, and are each beginning to more closely resemble 'Exchange & Mart', as their acreage is increasingly taken up with advertising.
I admit to coming to the conclusion myself some years ago that a Council could save money by printing it's own Free-Sheet to spread the word on all matters of Public Regulation;Planning Applications etc.
Yes, these Free-Sheets are also used to promote what councils are doing, to the chagrin of Mr. Pickles, but I have had a change of heart, and now see that the Local Press are also a great asset to a community and are worth preserving, even if that means returning to Councils publishing their announcements through them.
I have read that the proprietors of many of Kent's titles are committed to their role of Public Service. Perhaps they too could view their enterprises as less of a cash cow and be prepared to do their bit to increase and deepen local coverage?
