Community newspapers seek patrons to help keep local news free and in print
Hyperlocal titles in several London communities have launched an appeal for patrons to help keep their publications in print.
The Haringey Community Press , Enfield Dispatch and Waltham Forest Echo are among the titles published by Community Interest Company Social Spider.
In articles published last week, they urged people to consider becoming patrons of one of their titles, donating £500.
The HCP, which publishes monthly and was launched in 2016 as the Tottenham Community Press, is aiming to raise £20,000 from finding patrons.
In an editorial published on the website, the title said: “Local news is too important to be behind a paywall, sent out in private newsletters or locked into a model where circulation dwindles month on month. Local news needs to get in front of people to inform, to stimulate and to entertain.
“We see it as our duty to bring news to everyone in Haringey, regardless of their income or circumstances. News that’s free. News that’s trustworthy. News that reflects life in our borough as it actually is.
“When we started as Tottenham Community Press in 2016, we knew that the newspaper industry was facing challenging times. We knew it would be an uphill struggle. We’ve never had grant funding or investment.
“What we didn’t anticipate was a pandemic and a cost of living crisis.
“We knew 2024 was going to be a tough year. But it’s tougher than we thought. And that’s why we need to ask for your help.”
The HCP spent £20,000 more in 2023 on writing, printing and distributing the HCP than it brought in through advertising and supporter contributions. Current revenue comes from three sources — advertising, supporter contributions and cross-subsidy from its other titles and business activities.
Social Spider said all three sources of revenue are being squeezed as the cost of living crisis continues to bite — and pointed to the fact it could not currently tender for public notice contracts from the local council, either.
They added: “Put simply, we do not have the money to keep HCP running as it has been without some help.
“What we’re looking for is a small number of local patrons who believe in local news for Haringey as much as we do. Patrons are people who can contribute £500 per year or more to securing HCP’s long-term sustainability and help us to preserve our free-to-access public interest journalism.
“If we are not able to raise this amount it is likely we will have to move to online only publication — and reduce our output of local journalism.”
Social Spider’s Waltham Forest Echo launched in 2014, and in a similar editorial published last week described the need for patrons as a way to “cushion us to negotiate the unpredictable landscape for local news — as we respond to changes in the advertising market and the sometimes inexplicable behaviour of key players including local councils and big tech platforms.”
“It will give us the space to focus on journalism rather than complicated financial management,” they added.
The Enfield Dispatch, launched in 2018 after the Enfield Gazette and Advertiser closed, is seeking £15,000 from patrons for what it calls a ‘stabilisation fund.’
- If you think you might be able to help and would like to find out more email patrons@socialspider.com
