Local Heroes

Abstract

Under the pseudonym of the 17th century journalist who entered the trade because it paid considerably more than the 15 shillings-a-week he earned as a scrivener, a London weekly newspaper trainee describes the disappointments of working in local journalism. "A completely unscientific poll of friends on other local newspapers suggested I was not alone in my fears," he writes. "Most admitted what they put out week after week was simply not as good as it should be. And the reason? The endemic weaknesses in the way their newsrooms and companies were run. All pointed to the age-old problems of low pay, poor working conditions, the complete absence of training, long hours, understaffed newsrooms and a managerial emphasis on quantity rather than quality." This devastating article is a salutary warning for the newspaper industry.