REDBRIDGE is among several authorities to come under fire from media magnate Sly Bailey for publishing council newspapers – despite her company printing seven of them, including Redbridge Life.
Trinity Mirror chief executive Ms Bailey attacked the council run publications, calling them “mini Pravdas”, while London mayor Boris Johnson called them a “ludicrous waste of money”, it has been reported.
Trinity Mirror is responsible for printing Redbridge Life every month under a four-year deal but Ms Bailey yesterday called an Audit Commission investigation finding little wrong with council titles a “complete waste of time”, according to the national Guardian.
The company has said there is no contradiction between the fact it prints local authority publications and its criticism of the things they contain.
A spokesman said: "We are highly supportive of both the social and statutory need for councils to communicate with their taxpayers and as a major contract printer of newspapers in the UK we can offer highly competitive and cost effective solutions for our clients.
"Our objection is not about councils communicating with their taxpayers but the style, content and frequency of these 'newspapers'.
"During the past few years some councils have changed the format of these publications to a 'tabloid' newspaper style to include news, features, property pages, what's-on guides and sport and to pay for the professional journalists required they are taking on third party advertising.
"Importantly it is not clear these newspapers would be recognised by a reader as a council publication.
“These propaganda newspapers go far beyond their remit and are a threat to local democracy and the survival of a free and independent press."
The Guardian is awaiting a comment from Redbridge Council.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel