Local newspaper cuts are a 'body blow' for Journalists' Charity warns chairman

The demise of local papers is a "body blow" for the Journalists' Charity, according to chairman Chris Boffey who also takes a swipe at council newspapers.
In his May chairman's report, Boffey says: "Amidst the carnage in our industry the real tragedy is with local newspapers. Hardly a week goes by without a newspaper group announcing closures or massive redundancies.
"As well as being a personal blow for those involved it is also an assault on democracy. It is not so long ago that every court and every council had a reporter sitting at the press table. They were there so local people could know what was being done in their name.
"In too many cases we now just have a council free sheet spinning through the letter box with glossy pictures of councillors opening this-that-and-the other and no questioning of their activities.
"The demise of local newspapers is also a body blow for the Journalists' Charity. They were the lifeblood that provided us with new members. There is terrific work being done in the regions but recruitment is not increasing. We need new members to guarantee the future of the Charity for another 150 years."
Press Gazette reports today that the number of journalists claiming Jobseeker's Allowance has risen by 144 per cent in a year to 1,880.