Local Newspapers Embrace Change at National Symposium

• NNI and RNPAI collaborate to host national symposium
• Local newspapers’ role in communities highlighted

The Local Newspaper Week symposium, entitled Embracing Change, which took place in Dublin today, highlighted the value of local newspapers and provided ideas and insights from an expert programme of speakers, to assist local publications to adapt, innovate and thrive.

The event was hosted jointly by National Newspapers of Ireland Local and Regional and the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland and was the centrepiece of their Local Newspaper Week joint-initiative, which is running throughout this week.

The symposium was supported by an excellent line up of speakers, including Mark Little, Duncan Stewart, Steven Knowlton, Brendan O’Connor, David McRedmond, Tara Buckley, Dave O’Connell and Dearbhail McDonald.

Introducing the event, Michael Ryan, Chairman of NNI Local & Regional noted the great value of the trust that people have in their local newspaper.

In addition, he noted the challenges that local newspapers face, including the threat that the reduced 9% VAT rate may be rescinded.

“Publishers are committed to on-going investment and to sustaining the industry for the next generation of news consumers. However, at a time when both consumers and industry are facing daily challenges, it will prove catastrophic if the decision is made to revert to the 13.5% rate of VAT,” said Ryan.

Little challenged local newspapers to think beyond the printed page. He highlighted the opportunities for local newspapers to develop strong web presences and to benefit from the social engagement of their local communities online.

“The rise of the social web has made it easier for journalists to communicate and engage with their communities,” he said.

Speaking to an audience of newspaper journalists, publishers, media planners and advertisers, Little said that local newspapers should use their digital platforms not just to source content but to communicate with members of their communities who are spread across the world.

In terms of generating revenue, Little counselled that there is no single silver bullet to solve the financial challenges facing local newspapers. Instead he suggested that local papers should look at a diverse range of revenue streams and be prepared to innovate.

“I think news organisations need to move quickly to create subscriptions or paywalls around their most valuable original content.

“The key is not to try and imitate the big overhauls being undertaken by international media organisations. Local newspapers need to take lots of small steps quickly and be prepared to fail and learn quickly,” he said.

He left the audience with the positive message that local newspapers are up to the challenge of operating successfully in a digital era.

“The importance of local media in Ireland will only grow as citizens look for the relevant news in the growing cacophony of digital media,” he said.

Duncan Stewart, environmentalist and broadcaster spoke about the importance of local newspapers’ engagement with their local communities. Stewart chaired the judging panel for this year’s Get Involved competition, a joint NNI and RNPAI initiative that saw local newspapers support community projects in their areas.

“This initiative struck a very positive chord with me,” said Stewart, “It signalled an emerging, widespread interest and enthusiasm amongst communities to embrace locally-based collaborative projects that benefit their local environs and economy. It demonstrated to me that participants had a clear sense of ‘pride in local place’.

“Next year’s ‘Get-Involved’ competition will set out to inspire and stimulate even greater local community collaboration through voluntary efforts and to foster green enterprises through community co-operatives, to build local resilience and generate new livelihoods.

“Along with the local and regional newspapers, I hope to develop a community-focused website and blog to complement the ‘Get-Involved’ initiative, in a multi-media collaboration between all the local newspapers and the Eco Eye television series,” said Stewart.

The symposium provided a worthwhile opportunity for local newspapers around Ireland to hear the views of expert contributors, to share ideas and to think about the future development of their businesses.

For further information

Enda Buckley

E: ebuckley@cullencommunications.ie

T: 086 811 2757