Friday, February 12, 2010

Local News for Local People

Most local councils publish a council tax funded newspaper or magazine that they use for shameless self-promotion.

Living in LBHF I receive my weekly copy of the council paper H&F News.  Lovingly dubbed Pravda by locals, the paper has been designed to look like a publication totally independent from the council and has even been criticised by Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley.

For as long as I can remember no free and independent alternative has been available to LBHF residents.  However this all changed in January when the Hammersmith and Fulham Chronicle became a freesheet.

I was genuinely pleased that residents were, at last, going to be able to read a publication that reported local news instead of articles written by an organisation patting itself firmly on the back!

The first freesheet edition of the Chronicle was published on 15th January and was an enjoyable and informative read.  Friday 22nd January soon came round and the next edition duly arrived.  That sadly was the last edition to make it way through my letterbox because the last two editions haven't turned up.

Hopefully that isn't it for independent news in the borough and this week it'll be third time lucky...

UPDATE - After the short walk from work in W14 to the Bush what did I find waiting for me, yep, this week's paper.  Joy ;)

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