“WITH headlines dominated by Covid and the Brexit negotiations, and local democracy still curtailed by social distancing regulations, the independent scrutiny and accountability provided by local and national news publishers has never mattered more than it does now.
TV and radio doesn’t get close to the same level of detail and spread of subjects as newspapers and local publications are often the only way people find out about major changes being made to their districts by their local authority.
Newspapers like those at DNG Media bring a sense of cohesion to communities large and small, guiding them through this troubled and confusing era, a reassuring presence that local life is still going on in all its forms, for good or bad.
News publishing is hardly alone just now in facing a fight for existence, but the difference is that there is no shortage of demand for the services they provide and no shortage of money to support it. The problem is, despite massive readerships (over 90 per cent of people read newspaper content monthly), the advertising revenues that traditionally supported it are now being sucked up by a handful of overseas technology companies who do not pay for the stories news publishers produce.
You can help by taking out subscriptions to your favourite publications — digital access for a week rarely costs more than the price of a half pint of b eer — but you could also contact your MP and MSPs and ask them to help preserve the journalism you enjoy.
Journalism really does matter, so please act now before you realise just how much you miss it.”
