Local Newspapers Debate

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Local Newspapers

Anne Marie Morris Excerpts
Wednesday 25th April 2012

(12 years, 2 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait Mr Vaizey
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I happily join my hon. Friend in congratulating that newspaper on its success. Well-run local newspapers producing content that local people want to read will be successful.

I was interviewed recently by GQ Magazine, which my hon. Friend the Member for Corby is familiar with, about how to get elected to Parliament. I made the point, which I think hon. Members would agree with, that a page in a local newspaper is worth much more, still, than a Facebook campaign. That is worth remembering.

Anne Marie Morris Portrait Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con)
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Will the Minister join me in congratulating my Herald Express, which won the national award for creative bravery when it converted from being a daily to a weekly? If he wants some advice and guidance about how to do it yourself and get it right, that is a good example: that paper did it, and kept the sales and circulation.

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait Mr Vaizey
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I join my hon. Friend in recognising the achievement of her local newspaper in receiving that award and in moving from a daily to a weekly. That echoes the point made by the right hon. Member for Exeter—that, although painful to say it, it is better that a newspaper survive and prosper, albeit in a different format, than close entirely.