Advertising revenue is the vast majority of South West Durham News income, and businesses have supported us from the very beginning. We are tremendously grateful to our advertisers for their regular support – without them, your local paper simply would never have existed. However, in today’s economy, it’s no longer enough to rely on advertising revenue to survive.
For one, businesses have themselves suffered from rising costs and when belts need tightening, it’s often the advertising budget that’s first to go. And while that may help a business reduce costs, for a community newspaper reliant on advertising revenue, it has potentially existential repercussions. That’s one reason we need to consider new forms of revenue and why we are offering sponsorship as a potential way for businesses and community groups to provide support.
Ultimately it’s about the value we all put on the service provided by a community newspaper. Where would you find the latest, reliable, factual news about your community, the services on offer, the fundraising and other events taking place? Who else reaches the most isolated and vulnerable? Or indeed, how would you find out which local business can service your requirements? But as well as inform, we want to be able to grow, evolve, and employ.
As a community interest company, we are not for profit. That means every penny earned is reinvested back into the business. For us that means reinvesting that money, as best we can, back into the communities we serve. One way we can do that is by supporting young people with ambition to become story-tellers to join us, to cut their teeth on cutting-edge software and technology, to take their first steps into their chosen career by engaging with, promoting, and campaigning for their local communities.
We can do all this because we already have the technology and we have the facilities. What we don’t have is the revenue growth required to pay our young people. That’s where local businesses, local community groups and the community as a whole can help us by supporting our funding campaigns. Where a business may not have a requirement to advertise, they may instead believe in the value of a community newspaper and choose to sponsor us to ensure our survival.
Similarly, where a community group sees the value of a local paper promoting their daily activities, they may choose to sponsor us to ensure all local groups continue to benefit from a platform that brings their voice into every home. We will celebrate our sponsors by listing their business and community group names on the front page of our papers. They will also receive credits towards future advertising, or to apply a discount to current advertising.
For community groups, sponsorship fees begin at £5 per month.
For business, at £20 per month.
Click here to find out more, or call us at 01388 775896 for a chat.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
