Lowry calls for Government aid for local newspapers

"Tanaiste, newspapers are facing the greatest deadline in the history of print media. They need urgent financial support," stated Deputy Michael Lowry in the Dail on Thursday last.

Addressing the serious strain that local newspapers are currently under, Deputy Lowry said that the harsh impact of Covid-19 will not vanish when we finally supress this virus. The landscape of our lives will be forever altered by this pandemic. Not everyone will win the battle to survive. There will be casualties.

"Local newspapers have been hit badly by events. The economic downturn in 2008 was the first blow. This was followed by advertisers switching their advertising budgets to online platforms. Within two years 16 local newspapers were forced to close their doors. Now they are dealing with a pandemic. Many more doors are on the brink of closure," he said.

"Newspaper titles across the county have been swallowed up with a form of centralised ownership. This has led to rationalisation. Staff have been temporarily laid off for extended periods of time. Others have been placed on reduced work time. Those that continue to work are doing so under severe pressure as they strive to maintain quality.

"Local newspapers are caught in a vicious circle. Their primary source of income from advertising is rapidly drying up. Their readership is dwindling as sports and local events are not happening. They are struggling to hold their place against the growing popularity of the tech giants who have increased their hold on people since the onslaught of the pandemic.

"Local radio, which provides a similar service to communities across the country, has been allocated €5 million to support Covid coverage. Local newspapers have received no direct support. They have been excluded from valuable Government Covid campaigns, despite the knowledge that local papers are the news source of choice for the country’s older generation. How did this anomaly arise?

"Any support granted should not be used to bolster the coffers of the Media corporations. It should be linked to editorial investment. Funding should be conditional on supporting the titles. It must be directed towards maintaining the position of journalists and staff. It is the staff that bring the news and stories to the public. They need and deserve recognition. They need practical financial support to protect their future.

"A reduction in VAT charges would be welcome. We should place a Digital Tax on high tech operators who lift local media content to use on their own outlets completely free of charge. Local newspapers should also be included in spreading vital information through paid advertising by Government and all relevant bodies.

"Without support one of our greatest and proudest local services will disappear. I am asking for Government intervention. We cannot allow the provincial printing presses to stop," he concluded.