While my column still appears in print, I like to add more thought to what I wrote last week concerning the cessation of printing 112 community and regional newspapers and the opportunities that can arise from this shock decision.
How will community/sporting groups get information broadly disbursed about their activities?
That was one question that has popped up a few times in conversations about the end of the printed Morning Bulletin. Social media could be an answer, email blasts another, but will either effectively reach the desired audience and will the ones the posts do reach quickly scroll by it as they look for the next cute cat photo.
Perhaps the solution could be the basis for a new printed newspaper.
A Real Community Newspaper
If each community group that regularly produces content compiled them all together you may have sufficient core content for a weekly community newspaper. To help solve the other question, how will I know who passed away, funeral directors place their death notice advertisements in the community newspaper which helps pay the printing costs. Distribution could be solely through existing newsagents, responding to another two issues, the continued viability of these businesses and the important social activity the walk to the newsagent provides for many regular readers.
Too simple; will there be a cost, who is going to compile the content, format the pages, how is this person going to be paid and it is a rather dark way to pay for printing costs! Let’s take it a step further, what if the members of each participating community group were to become a limited liability member of the new newspaper (like a shareholder in a public company). A monthly fee of say $2 per member is collected from each club/group, those with the biggest contribution get the earlier pages for their content. Any annual surplus derived is paid as dividend back to these clubs proportionate to their financial share. Possibly a fund-raising source for the club. Other income can be derived from advertising, there’s a state election in October, government support, as our local politicians have offered and sales of the newspaper, perhaps 50 cents, that could be retained by the newsagent, for providing prominent shelf space and not returning unsold copies to the publisher.
Free Content Collection
CQUniversity could become involved supplying content, commercial space and journalism (work experience) students, as could any of the local schools. (The set-up structure could be as a Registered Training Organisation.) Plus, other non-profit organisations could also supply content and those with a fleet of vehicles help with the distribution of the paper. Councils supplying content, I think you could take as being a given, including their list of community events. And Arts CQ could also supply interesting content about local artists. Thus, the goal to collect free content with the onus for its accuracy on the contributor is a possibility. You wouldn’t have the big breaking stories, who’s going to court, national and international news, and you could ban political and celebrity puff pieces. Leave all that for the digital version of the Morning Bulletin. Basically, you would have a community newspaper, a paper that met the social needs of the community more than their immediate information needs. A paper that helps encourage participation in the annual relay for life and takes interest in the welfare of other locals. A newspaper compiled largely by the community, overseen by a volunteer board, that helps bring the community together. Possibly much like how the community radio stations 4US, Keppel FM and 4YOU operate, who could also promote the newspaper on a reciprocal basis.
Express Your Interest
It won’t replace the printed Morning Bulletin, to some it will be a supplement, for others it will provide the basic information they need to remain feeling connected with their community. To start this community newspapers someone needs to get a working committee together from the community groups that could be the core content contributors, then start doing the sums and working out a name. As suggested last week, what once seemed impossible is now possible, not necessarily the concept I’ve outlined here, but we must decide now to really explore alternative printed newspaper idea’s or just move on and reminisce.