This Week sees the relaunching of The Stamford Mercury (also Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Rutland and Stamford Mercury and Rutland Mercury) based in Stamford, Lincolnshire claims to be "Britain's oldest newspaper".Berrow's Worcester Journal and London Gazette also claim this honour. They say never believe what you read in a newspaper, The Mercury's masthead proclaims that it has been published since 1695.
Three editions (Stamford and The Deepings, Rutland and Bourne) are published every Friday.Most of these titles only differ by title, the content is mostly the same. The circulation figure in 2011 was 16,675.
The Mercury is now owned by East Midlands Newspapers Ltd, part of Johnston Press. Sister newspapers include The Peterborough Telegraph, Melton Times and The Rutland Times which is also being relaunched this week.
Johnston Press has destroyed the local press. This year alone it killed off Five of its local daily newspapers – the Halifax Courier, Scarborough Evening News, Northampton Chronicle & Echo, Peterborough Evening Telegraph and the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.
Will the temptation of free gifts and more council press releases, tempt the public to save the Rutland Times?
I think not, the biggest complaint I hear is the big price for a wafer thin paper. So thin there is not even enough paper to wrap the fish and chip offer.
Rutland folk are not easily fooled they know it's no longer a local paper once admired by readers because it was owned and published by a local man.
Kate Ade, once said to me the demise of the local press will harm local democracy.
I agree and the lack of true local journalism here in Rutland, has certainly contributed towards a public apathy.
The local Tories have for far to long enjoyed, controlling the weak journalists this group has employed over the years.
This tweet is a perfect example from a young lady, no longer employed by the group she tweeted at the time her employment was terminated. she claimed to be a senior reporter at such a young age. She is so young she could not see the Tory Leader had her in his
pocket .
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Just had a phone call from RCC leader Roger Begy to thank me for my hard work-small things like that matter :)
And as its final act......JP has withheld my pay slip! I'm expecting personal messages from the top bods to accompany my P45 ;)
