The Election, You and Your Newspaper

And if newspapers disappear so too will much of Irish online news, and with it many stories that need to be The Election, You and told. (That’s the online news paid for by Irish publishers, created by Irish journalists, and pirated with abandon by Facebook and Google - who operate in a parallel universe without the obligations and responsibilities of Your Newspaper. publishers). Without a virbrant local and national news publishing Why you need to read this. industry, who will report on the courts in your area, the Oireachtas, the County Councils, local and national sporting events, raise awareness of important societal ...and your days are packed, but can we ask for a couple of issues and campaign for change? Google? minutes of your time because we’ve got a few important points to Facebook? Twitter? You’re an make? Who will expose scandalous wrongdoing and criminality election Points that are directly relevant to this election, to ensure voters and highlight injustice, as newspapers have been doing are informed as truthfully and as honestly as possible in this era day in, week out, year after year after year? We know of ‘fake news’. Because if they’re not, we all lose. the answer, we know it’s pretty grim, and we think you candidate... wouldn’t want inaction to be an enabler of newspaper extinction. We’re not asking for massive hand-outs, we’re not asking Strong independent for funds that should go into the health, or housing, or infrastructure or education. All we’re asking for is your So back to the question, journalism matters. practical support to ensure that ‘fake news’ can always be how can you help? beaten by a strong newspaper industry creating trusted For you. journalism, and that the jobs that sustain this stay alive in our communities. Extend the brief of the Minister for Communications to As we’ve seen recently in other countries, without credible include all media, not just the broadcast sector, ensuring sources of news, where information is factual, accurate and Unfortunately, both are under serious threat right now. But the Minister has full oversight of our complex politically impartial, public trust and democracy itself are your support as an election candidate can make a difference, media landscape undermined. and in making that difference you can make a valuable contribution to defending our country’s democratic values. Support public service journalism across all media, So far, we’re lucky in Ireland that the newspapers you know not just broadcast. so well, the national dailies and the regional weeklies, Reduce VAT to 5% VAT on newspapers and digital news continue to fulfil that role of trusted source, operating How can you help? First, products. Ultimately reduce VAT to 0% as is the case in impartially and holding public figures and politicians of all what if you don’t? Britain and other EU countries. parties and none to account. Without legislative changes and pitch-leveling supports, the Complete the long-overdue Review of the Defamation You will note that we said ‘so far’. Yes, the balance and serious threat to your local and national newspapers will go Act and reform Ireland’s draconian defamation laws to fairness of our newspapers have contributed to preventing beyond a threat and many will cease to exist. ensure that the stories that need to be told, are told the vicious poloraisation that is an unsettling reality in many #journalismmatters countries, but we need your support to help us continue. www.newsbrands.ie Ann Marie Lenihan Key CEO NewsBrands Ireland Figures E: [email protected] • Irish Independent • The Herald • The Irish Mail on Sunday • The Irish Sun 140m national newspapers sold • Irish Examiner • Sunday Independent • Irish Farmers Journal • Irish Sunday Mirror (2018) • The Irish Times • Sunday World • Irish Daily Mail • The Sunday Times • Irish Daily Star • The Sunday Business Post • Irish Daily Mirror • The Irish Sun on Sunday 18m local and regional newspapers sold (2018) www.localireland.info €14 is the typical spend by a Johnny O’Hanlon newspaper purchaser in their Director Local Ireland local shop = an annual value of E: [email protected] €1.9bn to the retail sector €58m annual margin value to retailers from national and local • The Anglo Celt • Dundalk Democrat • Longford Leader • Tipperary Star newspaper sales • Bray People • Kildare Nationalist • Mayo News • Tuam Herald • The Clare Champion • The Kerryman • Meath Chronicle • Westmeath Examiner • Connaught Telegraph • The Corkman • Munster Express • The Westmeath Independent 20m VAT • Connacht Tribune • Kilkenny People • Nationalist Clonmel • The County Wexford Reporter • Donegal Democrat • Laois Nationalist • Nenagh Guardian • Galway City Tribune • Donegal Peoples Press • Leinster Express • Northern Standard • Western People 4,600 jobs (direct and indirect) • Donegal News • Leitrim Observer • Wexford People • Roscommon Herald • Drogheda Independent • Leinster Leader • Wicklow People • Waterford News & Star • Fingal Independent • Limerick Leader • Sligo Champion • Nationalist & Leinster Times • The Argus • Limerick Chronicle • Southern Star.

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