On This Site 10 Questions ForSpotlight OnIn My OpinionIn Our OpinionAdviceBlogsPodcasts
Services Post Your Media ReleaseSubmit a Job AdJoin the Media DirectoryLet us Handle Your PRTestimonials
Press News

Press February 08 2011 23:33

Local Glasgow Newspaper Closes Down after 14 Years

A free, monthly newspaper that has been serving Glasgow for 14 years has been closed down.

Local News Glasgow reached issue 151 in December, before owner/editor, Grace Franklin, was forced to make the decision, due to difficulties generating sufficient advertising revenue.

Founded initially as Local News for Southsiders, which was then joined by a separate title - Local News for Westenders - before the two were merged into Local News Glasgow; the paper comprised Franklin, her long-time associate, Jo-Anne Kessler, and various sales staff. Kessler's role was in admin and it is understood she has plans to launch an advertising-led publication - News in the City - with much less editorial than was in Local News Glasgow.

Editorial for the paper was provided by Franklin and a group of trusted freelances, mainly writers Erik Geddes, Lynsay Keough, Elyas Hussain and photographer, Stuart Maxwell. The print run was 40,000.

Last year, the paper moved to new, city-centre premises, to coincide with the appointment of a promising advertising sales team, but the early optimism soon disappeared as advertising sales failed to materialise in sufficient numbers.

"If I had been a hard-nosed business person, I would have wrapped it up a long time ago. Towards the end, it was the love of it, rather than money, that kept it going," Franklin told allmediascotland.

Franklin has returned to being a freelance journalist and plans to run a web-based paper and weekly eNews magazine.

Keywords: 
Add a Comment1 Comments Share/Save/Bookmark

Comments


David Sinclair
09/02/2011 - 17:35
A real shame. Grace is a good principled journalist who has provided a solid grass roots publication in Glasgow of which she and her staff and contributors can be justly proud. I will watch with interest for new developments.
 
TOP FOR MEDIA STORIES
TOP FOR MEDIA JOBS
TOP FOR STORY IDEAS
TOP FOR MEDIA OPINION
TOP FOR TALKING

Press
Press
Press
Press
Press