'Local newspaper week' - The local council publicity machine
During 'Local newspaper week', I wrote about the impact of local council newspapers on the commercial press. This led to some really interesting comments, and as a result I surveyed the publications produced by London's Boroughs. A quarter of them are at least fortnightly, and over 70% of them take commercial advertising, including giving away free classified listings in one instance, and yet the LGA insists that they do not compete.
Another reason that I struggle to buy the necessity of local council newspapers in London is that there is hardly a lack of other promotional options available to them.
On Friday it took me just 3 minutes to photograph all of these pieces of local government publicity, all located within a 200 metre radius of my house.
![Library Poster](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/library-poster.jpg)
![Planning notice](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/planning.jpg)
![CCTV sign](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/cctv-double.jpg)
![Public noticeboard on Fortis Green Road](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/public-noticeboard.jpg)
![Faulty Lamp](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/faulty-lamp.jpg)
![Tow Away zone](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/tow-away.jpg)
![Dog mess is a crime](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/dog-mess.jpg)
![Muswell Hill library Haringey Council noticeboard](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/library-noticeboard.jpg)
![Another CCTV sign](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/cctv-single.jpg)
![Don't feed the pigeons](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/pigeons.jpg)
![Better Harringey branded rubbish bin](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/councils/rubbish-bin.jpg)
Do I really need a glossy magazine that is eating into the local advertising market as well?
![Haringey Rates](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/haringey_rates.jpg)
![Haringey People](http://www.currybet.net/images/articles/2009/local_clippings/haringey-people.jpg)