Democracy: the "communication void"
Local and regional newspapers are important elements of a functioning local democracy.
Councils around the UK have been criticised for publishing newspapers which, some say, have infringed on the newspaper's role in the community.
Editor of Media Week Steve Barrett says council-run newspapers have an "undesirable impact". He attacked the council-run paper the Hammersmith and Fulham News which is circulated in the same area as his paper the Trinity Mirror-owned Hammersmith and Fulham Chronicle. He said: "Council-run competitors are a factor forcing local papers to cut resources to make their products viable commercially, which has a knock-on effect on quality and coverage."
Simon Jones, head of communications with Hammersmith and Fulham Council says local papers have created a "communication void" between the council and the community which the council-run paper is filling.
Journalists are spread thinly over a large area, he adds.
Mr Jones explains why the community needs the council's paper.
He bemoans the underinvestment in local media.
The journalists' workload has changed meaning a loss in quality journalism.
Keith Donaldson of the Newspaper Society was involved in Local Matters research conducted in 2008 to discover how, when and why people engage with their local community. The research showed local newspapers are often more important to people than national papers.
"That came through quite strongly. Obviously they fulfill different roles. People still want local news and information and one of the strong themes that came through was the fact that they go to local newspapers and websites to find out what the local council is up to for example or what is happening in their local area."