The Press we deserve
Some time ago I promised to blog about Cornwall's media. I have to confess I have been putting it off, somewhat daunted by the scale of the project. I reckon the thing to do is split it up into printed publications, radio, television and new media - although the word "new" in relation to blogs and web-sites these days seems a bit strange.
First up then, printed publications, daily and weekly. I reckon we have at least 16 local newspaper titles to chose from.
It can be argued that almost every word of most local newspapers in Cornwall is published by just three men. To say that "it can be argued" does not mean that this is a view I hold myself, but stick with it because it gets more interesting...
The Western Morning News, the Cornish Guardian, The West Briton and The Cornishman are all published by Cornwall & Devon Media, owned by owned in turn by the in London. The chairman of DMGT is, at it seems it has always been, Viscount Rothermere. Jonathan Harmsworth now controls a media empire launched by his ancestor, Lord Northcliffe, in 1896.
The Cornish Times, the Cornish & Devon Post and the Sunday Independent are all owned by the Surrey-based , whose chairman is Sir Ray Tindle. In 2003 Tindle told his reporters they should no longer cover protestors demonstrating against the Iraq war.
The Packet and Gazette titles also have their parent company HQ in Surrey, although is particularly interesting as its ultimate parent company is the US-based media group. The President and chief executive of Gannett is Texas-educated Craig A. Dubow, whose annual salary package last year was worth $2.4 million.
The St Ives Times & Echo, and the Newquay and St Austell Voice newspapers, as far as I can tell, remain relatively small, independent publications. Some will say I have neglected the glossy mags market, and they are right, but I've never read Cornwall Today or even Brides In Cornwall (also both DMGT) and have no plans to start now. If I have missed any titles, please feel free to correct me.
Still to come - radio, newspapers and new media. But does this apparent concentration of media ownership matter? Over to you.
I'm ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 30th Nov 2010, TheCornishRep wrote:Thanks for that informative article Graham.
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Comment number 2.
At 30th Nov 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:That's all very good, Mr Smith.
Perhaps, within your analysis and in due course, you will address the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s abuse of its audio and visual media domination in the Duchy by its relentless and tiresomely repetitive semantic and presentational projection of the Celtic Nation and Duchy of Cornwall as a fully assimilated part of England when it is territorially and constitutionally separate and distinct?
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Dec 2010, youngcornwall wrote:Graham Smith
I have to confess I have been putting it off, somewhat daunted by the scale of the project
I wish you luck Graham, but sitting this side of the screen it is more daunting knowing which postings will be acceptable and which postings will not.
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