View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
July 13, 2011

Tindle urges editors launch way out of ‘ghastly recession’

By Andrew Pugh

Sir Ray Tindle has urged editors in his regional newspaper group to launch their way out of the ‘ghastly recession”, after revealing that two of his newspapers have seen revenues more than halved since the beginning of the downturn.

Addressing senior staff today, Tindle also revealed revenue at one of his newspaper centres was down from £7m to £4m, and that two others were down by more than £3m.

‘Some of our papers are suffering losses but the Tindle Group as a whole is still as solid as a rock, our figures are sound, our reserves are secure so we’re absolutely sure that the group will live through this downturn,’he said.

‘Of course many of us thought we would see a turn for the better in newspaper fortunes during 2011. That, I’m afraid, has so far proved no to be so.”

Tindle’s titles in London have been hit particularly hard and revenues are down by more than £1m.

‘It’s our responsibility and we must grasp the nettle,’he continued. ‘Yes, I am fully aware that many here present still have good revenues for one reason or another. Thank goodness that is so and well done all of you.

‘But the recession is spreading out from London to the big cities. Not everyone will continue to escape the ravages of this downturn.’

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Ten out of 40 centres were concerned about advertising revenues but the remaining 30 were ‘reasonably healthy and still viable”, though they were urged to ‘slim ourselves’by the non-replacement of staff.

‘Names, faces and places’

Tindle’s solution for turning around his group’s fortunes is to focus on ‘hyper-local’content.

He said: ‘It is your responsibility to see that it is strictly local, hyper local… what do I mean by hyper-local? I didn’t invent the phrase. I learned it and a great deal more at the Press Gazette conference in Kingston last May… success is based on names, faces and places – but strictly local names, faces and places.”

He cited two recently launched newspapers: the Chingford Times in Greater London and Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Observer in West Wales, with the former going into profit from its first week.

Now, he wants to see other parts of the group following their lead.

‘If you have lost revenue, is there somewhere that you can start a new paper in order to archive new revenue to replace it?’he said.

‘Make it a really good paper and you’ll find people will pay for it.’But he added: ‘Forget going free.”

Papers will come through downturn

Despite announcing losses in some parts of the group, Tindle remains optimistic about the future of the industry.

‘So how do I see the future? Well I am quite sure the local weekly press has a long and viable life ahead. I am certain of it.

‘The whole local and regional press will come through this downturn and thrive again.”

Commenting on the recent closure of the News of the World, he said: ‘Whatever the caus,e whatever the reason, the loss of any newspaper inevitably brings feelings of regret and sorrow to a gathering such as this.’

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network