MEN fights for survival

The Manchester Evening News is 'fighting for its survival' amidst the biggest financial crisis to hit the local newspaper industry for thirty years.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of the Guardian Media Group, which owns the MEN, admitted last week that the paper was struggling to survive in the current economic climate.

The Rochdale Observer, Heywood Advertiser and Middleton Guardian are among the MEN's local newspaper titles. Advertiser and Guardian staff were recently moved into the main Observer offices on Drake Street as part of streamlining by the main group.

Local newspapers across the country are being forced to close as advertising revenues plunge. Free papers have been hardest hit because they lack income from cover prices.

Redundancies are expected across the industry, while even BBC Staff have been told that they must cut travel and entertainment costs significantly.

Meanwhile Rochdale MP Paul Rowen signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament earlier this week expressing concern at the impact that a proposed expansion of the BBC's local news provision could have on commercial media outlets.

The motion notes the benefits that websites like Rochdale Online provide to the local community in reporting local news.

The EDM "recognises the tremendous work of local newspaper reporters and broadcasters in providing reports on local events and community groups; and is concerned that proposals by the BBC or any similarly unfairly state-funded competitor may challenge the viability of commercial local news providers".

43 MPs have signed the EDM, which was proposed by Anne Main MP.