As reported by the Newspaper Society: The paper has revealed that the Guardian’s two rival Northcliffe titles, the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal, have continued to receive funding: 97.7% of the council’s funding in the local press has gone between them between 27 September and 21 November.
The move has cost the Newsquest title an estimated £9,000 and has occurred despite the subsequent publication of a full-page right-to-reply piece by the council.
Editor Mike Lewis said, “The Guardian’s lone stand against Carmarthenshire County Council has been described by one political commentator as David v Goliath…. In all honesty, we never wanted a fight.
“Surely, in these times of austerity it is in the interests of everyone to pull together?”
In fact, the revelation came on the very day the council was urged to show greater support for local newspapers. Following the Leveson report into media standards, the council had been called upon by county politicians to abandon its own publication the Carmarthenshire News (costing taxpayers £148,000 per year) to help ensure “the vibrancy of the press.”
Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said, “Local authorities have a duty not to undermine local newspapers and we’re calling on Carmarthenshire County Council to join our campaign to secure the future of the local press in the county.
“The council should start by scrapping its own publication and direct advertisers to the independently-run publications in the county.”
The South Wales Guardian article in question referred to the Welsh Assembly’s call-in of plans for Sainsbury’s stores in Llandeilo and Cross Hands.
Mr Lewis added, “The Guardian has nothing but respect for them [the council] – but we do have a problem with a regime which acts like some Eastern bloc state from the 1960s.”
