Our MD Scott Wood has described the “evolution” of our business as a modern community-based publisher based upon traditional strengths in a wide-ranging article.
Writing for InPublishing, the magazine for the UK newspaper, magazine and online publishing community, Scott has outlined the progress made by our business in engaging readers across digital, print and social media.
Scott writes: “Having built a strong reputation for publishing community-based news and information in some of the nation’s most scenic seaside locations and market towns, the team here are enthusiastic to develop personally and grasp the opportunities ahead of them.
“With 20 plus brands covering key locations in Surrey, Hampshire, the South West, Wales and the Isle of Man, our blend of ultra local news and community advertising, in print and online, means we continue to offer trusted local brands in some of the most beautiful parts of the country.
Strong bond
“We have titles dating back to the late 1700s, giving us a strong bond with local people who identify with our brands as being “their” news title.
“Like all publishers, we have faced the challenges of audience migration to online platforms which has impacted our traditional print revenues.
“In recognising how our audiences have changed to consume local news in a more digital way, we have increased the implementation of technology and the ways it can positively impact our markets. We continue to focus on three key areas: people, local strengths, community presence.
“Both our recent financial performance and the company balance sheet remain strong, giving us a positive outlook for the future.”
Scott then outlines the company’s investment in skills and training to ensure its people are able to make the most of the opportunities available in modern publishing.
He also explains the commitment to a continued presence on local high streets and a focus on community-based news.
Traditional strengths
Tech is playing an increasing role in our business, as Scott explains, along with more activity around celebrating local life through awards events.
He adds: “With so much change experienced in our industry, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to digital which can be adopted by all publishers.
“We draw upon traditional strengths, such as our commitment to community news specific to local areas, while embracing the potential of new technology.
“New roles are being created, with opportunities to manage our newsletter and video strategy being created.
“Our evolution is not complete but by maintaining our local presence while building upon it with a modern approach we aim to see our business become more effective and profitable in the years ahead.”
Read the full article here.