Thanks for this excellent piece Joshi. I think some of the MEN journalists do a great job despite everything but you are quite right about the destruction of local media. Incidentally, (Lord) Tom McNally was Stockport MP when the Stockport Advertiser was closed down 40 plus years ago and the title merged with the Stockport Express. Our Advertiser NUJ chapel fought a high profile, but unsuccessful, campaign to save the paper - and Tom McNally (along with Tony Benn) was one of our strongest supporters in parliament.
I tried to watch the proceedings on Parliament TV, looking for some explosive drama - but I thought you came across direct, honest, and to the point. I’ve only ever had the tiniest experience with MPs through work, but the impression I got (and one literally said it) “we’re busy people. People ask us to make decisions on things all the e time. What is it you want? What is it you think?” I’d hope therefore (and from the article, the Chair seemed to agree) that you cut through the noise and made a crystal clear point.
I’d be curious to know if The Mill would ever be interested in a similar piece about “local TV”. How Channel M and the like enjoy prominence on the TV Guide, but are actually zombie channels in the same way you describe zombie papers, churning out Piers Morgan at best, US daytime TV at worst. Viewing figures are probably so low, it’s not worth talking about…
But maybe that is the point. Imagine we had local TV made by local people? As little as ten years ago, mounting a 24/7 stream of content was probably daunting - but in today’s TikTok / YouTube / camera-in-your-pocket creator economy, the c potential is higher than ever to collate enough content to make proper local channels, across the UK.
As a final though, The Mill is perhaps partly on that parallel path? Stick a camera up (if you don’t already, and apologies if you do have a YT presence I haven’t noticed yet) and film your podcasts… “The Mill TV” has a nice ring to it!
I watched a few clips of the peers ,News execs and you Joshi with interest. You explained your thoughts very well on the subject of local newspapers and their lack of ..local news... and the clickbait issue.
So glad this is gaining momentum, long may it continue.
Brilliant piece on the demise of traditional local media which I find heartbreaking (btw there is a literal - shd be Lionel Barber not Barner. Sorry once a sub….)
It takes a special set of skills by Reach et al to make their sites so spectacularly unusable. Any remaining decent journalism is buried beneath layers of dross.
Proud of you Joshi and yes, I think there is a momentum. I keep seeing little references to the Mill here and there and glow with pride for you. Thanks. Keep going
Really glad you spoke honestly about the state of local media. If ever there was a time when politicians need to be held to account, this is it. If people haven’t subscribed yet, i highly recommend that you do and support this local media source - it’s quality.
An excellent article Joshi. And so true. When I was on the Scott Trust with Rusbridger neither he nor any other member showed any interest in the scores of regional papers we owned and in fact at least twice the Trust tried to sell off the MEN. He also nearly bankrupted the group by his ego driven decision to get a Berliner press rather than go tabloid. Chickens are coming home to roost.
“The Manchester Guardian, my old paper, started as a startup in Manchester with 11 backers, and look where it is now.”
Indeed. Made a pile of money out of Julian Assange and Wikileaks, running exclusive coverage that boosted circulation plus best-selling book, then ratted on him and sold him out to MI5. Now he's a broken man in Belmarsh high security prison awaiting possible extradition to the US and 147 years sentence. Not a proud record, Alan. And you played your part in this sad debacle.
PS: I’ve got some contacts who help set up Local TV stations back in the 90s (back when NTL was involved with the infrastructure) who could help flesh out some of the larger context and why the “local” quota gradually got phased out on the “local” channels…
An inspiring piece. Thank you.
I'm not sure Rusbridger quite gets it though:
“The Manchester Guardian, my old paper, started as a startup in Manchester with 11 backers, and look where it is now.”
Yes - London
Thanks for this excellent piece Joshi. I think some of the MEN journalists do a great job despite everything but you are quite right about the destruction of local media. Incidentally, (Lord) Tom McNally was Stockport MP when the Stockport Advertiser was closed down 40 plus years ago and the title merged with the Stockport Express. Our Advertiser NUJ chapel fought a high profile, but unsuccessful, campaign to save the paper - and Tom McNally (along with Tony Benn) was one of our strongest supporters in parliament.
I tried to watch the proceedings on Parliament TV, looking for some explosive drama - but I thought you came across direct, honest, and to the point. I’ve only ever had the tiniest experience with MPs through work, but the impression I got (and one literally said it) “we’re busy people. People ask us to make decisions on things all the e time. What is it you want? What is it you think?” I’d hope therefore (and from the article, the Chair seemed to agree) that you cut through the noise and made a crystal clear point.
I’d be curious to know if The Mill would ever be interested in a similar piece about “local TV”. How Channel M and the like enjoy prominence on the TV Guide, but are actually zombie channels in the same way you describe zombie papers, churning out Piers Morgan at best, US daytime TV at worst. Viewing figures are probably so low, it’s not worth talking about…
But maybe that is the point. Imagine we had local TV made by local people? As little as ten years ago, mounting a 24/7 stream of content was probably daunting - but in today’s TikTok / YouTube / camera-in-your-pocket creator economy, the c potential is higher than ever to collate enough content to make proper local channels, across the UK.
As a final though, The Mill is perhaps partly on that parallel path? Stick a camera up (if you don’t already, and apologies if you do have a YT presence I haven’t noticed yet) and film your podcasts… “The Mill TV” has a nice ring to it!
I watched a few clips of the peers ,News execs and you Joshi with interest. You explained your thoughts very well on the subject of local newspapers and their lack of ..local news... and the clickbait issue.
So glad this is gaining momentum, long may it continue.
Brilliant piece on the demise of traditional local media which I find heartbreaking (btw there is a literal - shd be Lionel Barber not Barner. Sorry once a sub….)
Plus young journalists get opportunities to hone their skills without having to go to London.
It takes a special set of skills by Reach et al to make their sites so spectacularly unusable. Any remaining decent journalism is buried beneath layers of dross.
More power to The Mill - long may you thrive.
Enjoy your well deserved break Joshi 👍
Proud of you Joshi and yes, I think there is a momentum. I keep seeing little references to the Mill here and there and glow with pride for you. Thanks. Keep going
Really glad you spoke honestly about the state of local media. If ever there was a time when politicians need to be held to account, this is it. If people haven’t subscribed yet, i highly recommend that you do and support this local media source - it’s quality.
Very well done.
I like to keep an open mind. The Mill is my favourite though.
Well done, Joshi! Hang in there, brother. And I'm proud to be a (very) tiny part of what supports you and your Mill colleagues in your work.
Great piece Josh. I'm really enjoying the Mill. It's a ray of hope for local news reporting and hope you continue to thrive and grow.
Proud to say I subscribe to the New York Times, The Guardian and The Mill!
An excellent article Joshi. And so true. When I was on the Scott Trust with Rusbridger neither he nor any other member showed any interest in the scores of regional papers we owned and in fact at least twice the Trust tried to sell off the MEN. He also nearly bankrupted the group by his ego driven decision to get a Berliner press rather than go tabloid. Chickens are coming home to roost.
“The Manchester Guardian, my old paper, started as a startup in Manchester with 11 backers, and look where it is now.”
Indeed. Made a pile of money out of Julian Assange and Wikileaks, running exclusive coverage that boosted circulation plus best-selling book, then ratted on him and sold him out to MI5. Now he's a broken man in Belmarsh high security prison awaiting possible extradition to the US and 147 years sentence. Not a proud record, Alan. And you played your part in this sad debacle.
PS: I’ve got some contacts who help set up Local TV stations back in the 90s (back when NTL was involved with the infrastructure) who could help flesh out some of the larger context and why the “local” quota gradually got phased out on the “local” channels…