Subscribe to trusted local news
If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
07
Aug
Political advertising? We had a huge response...
Dear Subscribers,
Thank you for the many responses you’ve sent me about whether we should accept political adverts. It’s a subject I thought you would feel strongly about! Most of you were against it but it certainly wasn’t unanimous. I am very grateful that so many of you took the time to send me really considered views.
We rely on both subscriptions and advertising to survive. We provide a fantastic platform for local businesses to find new customers and market their products and have a great relationship with our commercial clients.
But political advertising is not the same – it’s muddy. We are here to scrutinise politicians in a way that we rarely have cause to with local businesses.
It was wonderful to read how many of you value so deeply what we do. I do not want that jeopardised. Our reputation for impartial scrutiny of public money and politicians has been hard won over many years. As a subscriber, you are paying for that.
But I don't think it is a flat no from me either.
Before I explain what I might allow, I thought I should share some of your responses as they all fed into my decision:
The moment you allow political advertising, though, that neutrality, which reinforces the ability to challenge and the perception of objective reporting, will be called into question.
The parties with most money would shout loudest.
This dilemma is a bit like the current parliamentary debate: is it the reality or the public perception of money being given (or in the SF case, paid) that matters? Whilst I accept that your journalists are entirely ethical in their approach to their jobs and will report without fear or favour, how are they going to respond if they perceive their jobs to be under threat, and they have to write unfavourable copy about the parties who choose to advertise with you? A conflict is inevitable, even if that conflict is only in their own heads.
Most of us would not read them (unless they reinforce our existing political persuasion!) and would certainly not assume that the Stray Ferret would have endorsed them.
If you want to remain a legitimate impartial news service you should not allow political advertising.
I am not squeamish about seeing such adverts but do not want to be bombarded. So I would suggest some rationing.
Hopefully it would save on them putting stuff through our door and wasting paper and kinder to the planet.
At times our local MP issues press releases that are barely newsworthy but get his photo in the paper... On balance it may be worth accepting such items as long as they are clearly flagged as a paid advertisement. We can choose not to open the item.
All treated with equal fairness and column inches, and all treated to equal polite scrutiny and comment. However, please don't let the Ferret become a political forum and dominate the news - just an occasional input is fine.
There you go - mixed views! Again - thank you for all your responses.
I can assure all our subscribers we will continue to cover local politics, in all its glory, working to a strict code of impartiality, balance and accuracy, whatever we do.
What will we do then? My thoughts are that I will work on a policy of allowing a limited amount of political advertising during election periods only, with a small capped financial limit so it's affordable and open to all parties.
At all other times, we will not allow political advertising.
Whilst I don't think the political parties are going to make a significant difference to our bottom line, I cannot pass on this opportunity to say again that we need more revenue to survive and thrive.
The past year has been particularly challenging financially.
Please continue your subscription and encourage others to subscribe.
If we make any profit, it will go back into journalism, increasing the number of journalists so we can offer even better news and local information for an area we all love. If we hit 4,000 subscribers I have committed to recruiting a local young person and putting them through a journalism apprenticeship - which we have done before very successfully. You will be hearing more about this in the coming months.
Once again, thank you for such a wonderful response. You can always get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and give us feedback.
We are here for you.
1