Member Article

MP's concern as newspaper pulls out of Stockton

A North East MP has described plans to close offices of a local newspaper as a ‘very bad decision for the newspaper, for its readers and for the community as a whole’.

Stockton North MP Frank Cook said he hoped management of Trinity Mirror, owners of the Evening Gazette, would think again about proposals which would see the closure of all its branch offices.

The MP said: “The Evening Gazette has been rightly proud in proclaiming itself as the voice of Teesside - indeed its masthead daily describes itself as ‘the heart and soul of your community.’

“It is very difficult to see how it can claim to be at the heart of the community of Stockton when, if these plans go ahead, it won’t actually have a presence in the town. I am sure that I am not alone in seeing it as clear evidence that Stockton’s position as the largest borough in the area is not given the recognition it deserves - and that in future the Gazette will be perceived as looking inwards to Middlesbrough, where all its activities will based, with both Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland treated as second class citizens.

“I do not believe that this move would be in the long-term interests of the Evening Gazette - certainly it makes a nonsense of initiatives such as their ‘Teespride’ campaign to promote the area as a whole - and I believe it is bad news for everyone living and working in Stockton.”

Mr Cook said that local businesses may now struggle to get their voices heard.

He said: “This proposal may look appealing on a balance sheet in Newcastle or London… it makes no sense in the real world.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .