Roy Greenslade: 'More consolidation will not solve regional press crisis'

Roy Greenslade in his Evening Standard column today argues that more consolidation in the regional newspaper industry will not solve its problems.
But he thinks the lobbying by the big regional publishers for merger and acquisition rules to be relaxed will pay off.
He says: "It would not surprise me in the least if Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and the Government bend to the publishers' will, largely because newspaper owners have been careful to couch their argument in terms of the threat to local democracy should papers fold. They seek to portray themselves as selfless champions of the public interest rather than profiteers."
Another voice against further consolidation is Midlands free newspaper entrepreneur Chris Bullivant who has claimed in a submission to the OFT that if the Government gives in to the big publishers the regional press could end up being dominated by two giant groups.