Enfield Dispatch editor James Cracknell reflects on the current state of the local news industry ahead of next week’s campaign supporting small publishers

Last month I was sad to learn that one of my former employers, South London Press, had printed its last issue.

The paper had been printed every week – until recently, twice each week – since 1865 and was frequently hailed in the 1990s and early 2000s as the best local newspaper in the country.

But the downfall of the local news industry over the last 20 years has been swift and harsh. I worked at SLP as a reporter between 2012 and 2015. When I started the paper occupied a four-storey office building in Streatham Hill, when I left it was crammed into a converted charity shop and was only employing four reporters.

However, SLP continued for another decade, and its sudden closure in May has left boroughs like Lewisham without a proper print newspaper. It is scary to now think how many people do not have a physical local paper to help them stay informed about what is going on in their borough.

We launched Enfield Dispatch in 2018 because we didn’t want people in Enfield to be left to this fate. We have kept going for the past seven years despite huge financial challenges and, while there have been some promising signs and continued growth in our supporter base, we continue to operate on a tiny budget and struggle to make ends meet.

This month, Indie News Week is returning to help champion the independent local news sector, comprising hundreds of small but dedicated publications around the UK just like us. While we are all unique publications, what unites us is our motivation to provide a proper local news service for the communities we serve, on a not-for-profit basis.

Last year Dispatch publisher Social Spider Community Interest Company raised over £9,000 as part of first Indie News Week campaign. This year we’re aiming to increase that to £12,000.

For Enfield specifically, we want to use this money to invest in some more news stands. Those of you who pick up the paper from these locations, usually near stations, may have noticed that several are now damaged beyond repair. Replacing one news stand costs around £150 but we want to invest in 15 new branded stands to help bring the paper to more parts of the borough – such as Winchmore Hill and Enfield Lock, where we do not currently have 24-hour distribution points. If you can you help us with this, please click here to make a donation. All support is greatly appreciated!

Also, don’t forget that I will be available for a chat during Indie News Week. On Wednesday, 11^th June, I will be at Dugdale Arts Centre in Enfield Town between 12pm and 2pm. Feel free to pop in and ask me anything you like about the paper – or perhaps give me a tip about a story!

If you’re really keen, there is also another Indie News Week event being hosted by London Newsmakers – a group of independent publishers in the capital, including Social Spider CIC – at Goldsmiths in New Cross from 6pm on Monday, 9^th June. For more information about this and to sign up click here. I hope to see you soon!

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

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