Thursday, 1 November 2018
VIEW NEWS Christmas message
Wishing all of our many West Country friends, businesses and communities a very happy Christmas.
Thank you for your support in 2018. We look forward to exciting times during the coming year... Where local media matters.
Tuesday, 30 October 2018
GEORGE PULMAN - VICTORIAN MEDIA MAN
- Remembering a rural publishing pioneer who was also a committed Christian.
Many West Country communities know the name George Pulman well. He is considered something of a Victorian media mogul who founded Pulman's Weekly News way back in 1857.
His media brands continued to be a prolific news source for over 150 years throughout the prime agricultural counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Pulman's news was always renowned for its reliability and trustworthiness. What was published by Pulman's journalists could be considered as being true.
What people may not know is that George Pulman was also a lifelong committed Christian who worshipped regularly at his local town church in Axminster, Devon.
To help rouse local attendance, George would enthusiastically play the church organ on a Sunday morning. There he went on to meet and marry his young wife, who was likewise drawn to become a regular member of the same Axminster congregation.
Throughout his life he believed in the importance of building community: through Church, rural life and local news. He always upheld values of truth and helped give voice to many West Country causes and concerns that might otherwise have been cast aside and forgotten.
Journalism was a task that required the utmost responsibility and was a profession treated with great respect.
So in today's era of fake news and political propaganda, perhaps it is time to remember the values of one of the news media's earliest pioneers.
A man of faith who built a regional media empire in the wake of the industrial revolution which lasted through multiple generations.
The 'Pulman's Award' and bursary continues to uphold the same values of George Pulman and is open for nominations throughout the year.
George Philip Rigney Pulman: 1819 - 1880
Friday, 26 October 2018
Publisher liable for money owed to journalists still plans to reopen weeklies
Report by David Sharman for HoldTheFrontPage
A publisher at the centre of a row over a series of local newspapers which ceased publication in January has reiterated his determination to reopen them over time.
Duncan Williams, left, bought the View From titles, which cover areas of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, in January following their closure by previous owner, Sunday Independent publisher Peter Masters.
A court has since ruled Mr Williams is liable for money owed to a group of 28 former View From employees who were made redundant when the titles ceased publication.
But he has restated his intention to appeal the decision and says he is still working to get the eight View From titles as well as Axminster-based Pulman’s Weekly News reopened, although he accepts this will not happen in one go.
As part of the relaunch plan, he has set up a video news channel entitled View News which also aims to offer a PR service to local businesses, converting press releases into videos which would then be carried on the newspapers’ social media channels and websites.
The View From titles served towns and villages including Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, while Pulman’s Weekly News covered Axminster.
Said Duncan: “The titles will all be brought back incrementally. As they have been traditionally free, budgets need to be securely in place first off before relaunching the entire portfolio in one fell swoop.
“Revenues from video advertising and social media are designed to enable this.”
Duncan added: “Despite the recent controversy surrounding their acquisition, I remain very happy indeed with the Pulman’s Weekly News brand.
“Their founder George Pulman was an influential Christian publisher of the Victorian era whose vision I much admire and whose community values are certainly part of what makes local media so vital to regions.
“Likewise, I remain delighted with the View News series, which I know have suffered from sharply declining advertising revenues, repeat closures, rumpuses and relaunches. However, the technology upgrades I have personally invested in are hoping to remedy this.
“To be clear to all of my investors, banks and advertising agencies: I have no intention whatsoever of going bankrupt. The employment tribunal decision will be appealed.”
A publisher at the centre of a row over a series of local newspapers which ceased publication in January has reiterated his determination to reopen them over time.
A court has since ruled Mr Williams is liable for money owed to a group of 28 former View From employees who were made redundant when the titles ceased publication.
But he has restated his intention to appeal the decision and says he is still working to get the eight View From titles as well as Axminster-based Pulman’s Weekly News reopened, although he accepts this will not happen in one go.
As part of the relaunch plan, he has set up a video news channel entitled View News which also aims to offer a PR service to local businesses, converting press releases into videos which would then be carried on the newspapers’ social media channels and websites.
The View From titles served towns and villages including Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, while Pulman’s Weekly News covered Axminster.
Said Duncan: “The titles will all be brought back incrementally. As they have been traditionally free, budgets need to be securely in place first off before relaunching the entire portfolio in one fell swoop.
“Revenues from video advertising and social media are designed to enable this.”
Duncan added: “Despite the recent controversy surrounding their acquisition, I remain very happy indeed with the Pulman’s Weekly News brand.
“Their founder George Pulman was an influential Christian publisher of the Victorian era whose vision I much admire and whose community values are certainly part of what makes local media so vital to regions.
“Likewise, I remain delighted with the View News series, which I know have suffered from sharply declining advertising revenues, repeat closures, rumpuses and relaunches. However, the technology upgrades I have personally invested in are hoping to remedy this.
“To be clear to all of my investors, banks and advertising agencies: I have no intention whatsoever of going bankrupt. The employment tribunal decision will be appealed.”
Thursday, 4 October 2018
Tribute paid to late actor
ENGLISH actor Dudley Sutton has died aged 85.
From 'The Post Series' newspapers
Dudley went to school in Lifton as a boy and used to visit Launceston regularly.
He did acting work on stage, in TV and for films for over 50 years, and had a second home in Cornwall for many of them.
Dudley also did a huge amount of unpaid work helping people recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Duncan Williams, originally from Yeolmbridge, in paying tribute to Dudley, said: “I was fortunate enough to work with Dudley way back in the 80s when he played a very heavy drinker in a one off script I wrote. I realised it required a lot of on-screen boozing and I asked Dudley what he wanted to drink during each take as he would likely be drunk as a sack by the time we finished this scene. He said to me, very assertively, ‘Only cold tea, old boy. I don’t touch alcohol. Nearly killed me in the 60s, I haven’t had a drop for years’.
“Dudley Sutton had been sober for decades when he finally passed away on September 15 and during that time he had helped countless others beat the demon drink and addiction problems.
“I found this picture of Dudley back in the height of his Lovejoy series fame back in the 80s. I was fortunate enough to work with him as a screenwriter here. One of the most well read people I have met, and very political aware. A committed socialist to the end. Was a huge influence on my thinking back then.
“God bless you, Dudley. You will be much missed.”
From 'The Post Series' newspapers
Dudley went to school in Lifton as a boy and used to visit Launceston regularly.
He did acting work on stage, in TV and for films for over 50 years, and had a second home in Cornwall for many of them.
Dudley also did a huge amount of unpaid work helping people recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Duncan Williams, originally from Yeolmbridge, in paying tribute to Dudley, said: “I was fortunate enough to work with Dudley way back in the 80s when he played a very heavy drinker in a one off script I wrote. I realised it required a lot of on-screen boozing and I asked Dudley what he wanted to drink during each take as he would likely be drunk as a sack by the time we finished this scene. He said to me, very assertively, ‘Only cold tea, old boy. I don’t touch alcohol. Nearly killed me in the 60s, I haven’t had a drop for years’.
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| Dudley Sutton, pictured centre, with his Launceston scriptwriters (Duncan Williams and John Exshaw) back in the 1980s. |
“Dudley Sutton had been sober for decades when he finally passed away on September 15 and during that time he had helped countless others beat the demon drink and addiction problems.
“I found this picture of Dudley back in the height of his Lovejoy series fame back in the 80s. I was fortunate enough to work with him as a screenwriter here. One of the most well read people I have met, and very political aware. A committed socialist to the end. Was a huge influence on my thinking back then.
“God bless you, Dudley. You will be much missed.”
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Tindle Newspapers closes last remaining View From newspaper title
Report by Charlotte Tobitt for Press Gazette
Tindle Newspapers has closed the last remaining View From newspaper title, the monthly View From The Blackdown Hills.
The 16-page free paper was bought by Tindle in December 2009 as the publisher sought to widen its circulation area in the south west of England.
Its last edition, which had a distribution of around 6,000, was published this month.
Sandra Perraton, managing director of Tindle Newspapers in Teignbridge, Tavistock and Mid and East Devon, said: “Tindle Newspapers have been proud to serve the people of the Somerset/ Devon border.”
Perraton added that no journalists were made redundant by the closure, and that there are no current plans for any other newspapers from her centres in the south west to close.
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| Sandra Perraton - Tindle Newspapers Ltd. |
At the time of Tindle’s purchase of the title from View From Publishing, former chairman Sir Ray Tindle said it was an “excellent editorial and advertising publication and we are proud to have it in our family”, adding: “There is a big future for these community newspapers.”
The Blackdown Hills newspaper was the last surviving View From title after the series was closed on 4 January due to “falling revenues” . It was the only title still owned by Tindle.
The other View From editions were owned by Capital Media Newspapers until it went into administration in July 2017 and then bought by Sunday Independent owner Peter Masters.
After Masters closed the newspaper series, the brand was sold for £1 to Duncan Williams, a director of West Country media company Pulman’s Weekly News Group.
Williams has now been found personally liable at a tribunal for thousands of pounds owed to former employees.
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Tribunal rules job loss workers are entitled to £250k
Reported by Hamish Marshall for BBC Spotlight
Two dozen workers in Devon and Dorset have won their case to get an estimated £250,000 they're owed - nine months after losing their jobs.
"The View From" series of newspapers, which included Axminster, Lyme Regis and Weymouth, was closed and then sold by Cornish businessman Peter Masters in January.
An employment tribunal has ruled new owner Duncan Williams is now responsible for the staff wages, notice and redundancy payments.
A hearing will be held next year to decide how much each worker - including journalists and sales executives - is entitled to.
The government will foot the bill if Mr Williams declares himself bankrupt.
He has told the BBC he intends to appeal the decision.
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| Hamish Marshall |
"The View From" series of newspapers, which included Axminster, Lyme Regis and Weymouth, was closed and then sold by Cornish businessman Peter Masters in January.
An employment tribunal has ruled new owner Duncan Williams is now responsible for the staff wages, notice and redundancy payments.
A hearing will be held next year to decide how much each worker - including journalists and sales executives - is entitled to.
The government will foot the bill if Mr Williams declares himself bankrupt.
He has told the BBC he intends to appeal the decision.
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Media director found personally responsible for money owed to axed journalists
If Duncan Williams declares bankruptcy, claims for money will be transferred to the secretary of state
A REPORT BY ANITA MERRITT FOR CORNWALL LIVE
A Cornwall media director has been found personally liable to pay money owned to employees after he spent £1 to purchase a news organisation they were made redundant from before he acquired it.
A judgement delivered today at an employment tribunal concluded the former boss of the View From series, Peter Masters, chairman of Truro City Football Club, who made all staff redundant on January 4 due to the titles ceasing publication, was not liable for claims of staff still awaiting pay in lieu of notice, redundancy money and arrears of pay.
The decision heard at Exeter Combined Court stated that as media director Duncan Williams had bought the titles, which cover areas of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, on January 16, all right, powers, duties and liabilities had transferred to him rather than his limited company.
Mr Williams, who did not attend the two-day hearing, had stated he only purchased the intellectual property rights for the brands.
The 28 claimants will now attend a further hearing next March to determine how much money is owed to them. If Mr Williams declares bankruptcy, claims for money will be transferred to the secretary of state.
In July 2017, Peter Masters, owner of Cornwall-based Sunday Independent, announced the acquisition of the eight papers in the ‘View From’ series.
In January, Mr Masters, the sole shareholder, sold the Your View series to Mr Williams for £1, and resigned as director.
Evidence was given to support Mr Williams's intention to continue the business.
Employment judge Nicholas Roper said Vibe Marketing Group Ltd, which Mr Williams is the director of, was a ‘shell company’ and nothing more than a trading name. It means he is legally the employer and personally responsible.
He concluded Mr Williams is personally liable for claims of unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payment. He is jointly liable with Vibe Marketing for pension deductions.
Liable for a further claim of unlawful pension deductions from July 2017, which saw payments taken but not put into a work pension scheme, is Vibe Marketing.
One of the claimants is making a claim of unfair dismissal in December 2017, before the publication ceased printing, stating no verbal or written reason was provided.
Mr Williams runs independent news and marketing service the Poole Post. He is also a commercial development consultant with News Group Ltd and a director of Vibe Marketing.
Mr Williams launched a crowdfunding bid, with a target of £85,000, to revive the series of closed weekly newspapers.
At the time of the takeover, Mr Williams said an “accountants audit” would take place before any long-term decisions were made about the future of the publications.
The View From titles serve Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, while Pulman’s Weekly News serves Axminster.
The series was previously based in Lyme Regis.
Speaking after the tribunal, Mr Williams said: "I have no intention of going bankrupt. I was taken aback by the judge's decision as I had been told beforehand that this was a preliminary hearing to clarify issues that took place at the Westcountry newspaper group long before I became involved with it.
"I am appealing the Exeter court's decision and I am not seeking intervention from the Secretary of State."
A REPORT BY ANITA MERRITT FOR CORNWALL LIVE
A Cornwall media director has been found personally liable to pay money owned to employees after he spent £1 to purchase a news organisation they were made redundant from before he acquired it.
A judgement delivered today at an employment tribunal concluded the former boss of the View From series, Peter Masters, chairman of Truro City Football Club, who made all staff redundant on January 4 due to the titles ceasing publication, was not liable for claims of staff still awaiting pay in lieu of notice, redundancy money and arrears of pay.
The decision heard at Exeter Combined Court stated that as media director Duncan Williams had bought the titles, which cover areas of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, on January 16, all right, powers, duties and liabilities had transferred to him rather than his limited company.
Mr Williams, who did not attend the two-day hearing, had stated he only purchased the intellectual property rights for the brands.
The 28 claimants will now attend a further hearing next March to determine how much money is owed to them. If Mr Williams declares bankruptcy, claims for money will be transferred to the secretary of state.
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| Duncan Williams |
In July 2017, Peter Masters, owner of Cornwall-based Sunday Independent, announced the acquisition of the eight papers in the ‘View From’ series.
In January, Mr Masters, the sole shareholder, sold the Your View series to Mr Williams for £1, and resigned as director.
Evidence was given to support Mr Williams's intention to continue the business.
Employment judge Nicholas Roper said Vibe Marketing Group Ltd, which Mr Williams is the director of, was a ‘shell company’ and nothing more than a trading name. It means he is legally the employer and personally responsible.
He concluded Mr Williams is personally liable for claims of unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payment. He is jointly liable with Vibe Marketing for pension deductions.
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| Peter Masters |
Liable for a further claim of unlawful pension deductions from July 2017, which saw payments taken but not put into a work pension scheme, is Vibe Marketing.
One of the claimants is making a claim of unfair dismissal in December 2017, before the publication ceased printing, stating no verbal or written reason was provided.
Mr Williams runs independent news and marketing service the Poole Post. He is also a commercial development consultant with News Group Ltd and a director of Vibe Marketing.
Mr Williams launched a crowdfunding bid, with a target of £85,000, to revive the series of closed weekly newspapers.
At the time of the takeover, Mr Williams said an “accountants audit” would take place before any long-term decisions were made about the future of the publications.
The View From titles serve Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, while Pulman’s Weekly News serves Axminster.
The series was previously based in Lyme Regis.
Speaking after the tribunal, Mr Williams said: "I have no intention of going bankrupt. I was taken aback by the judge's decision as I had been told beforehand that this was a preliminary hearing to clarify issues that took place at the Westcountry newspaper group long before I became involved with it.
"I am appealing the Exeter court's decision and I am not seeking intervention from the Secretary of State."
Truro City FC chairman Peter Masters gives evidence at tribunal over newspapers sold for £1
An employment tribunal heard 27 journalists and staff were made redundant when the weekly newspapers went bust in January
REPORT BY ANITA MERRITT & GRAEME WILKINSON FOR CORNWALL LIVE
REPORT BY ANITA MERRITT & GRAEME WILKINSON FOR CORNWALL LIVE
The chairman of Truro City Football Club has given evidence at a tribunal about a series of weekly newspapers he sold for £1.
The employment tribunal is looking into who is liable for paying money owed to 27 members of staff after the View From media series went bust.
The business had been acquired by Peter Masters, who is also the chairman of Truro City Football Club and the director of Cornwall Today magazine, in July 2017.
However the news publications, which covered the areas of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, closed in January and the staff were made redundant.
They claim they are all still awaiting pay in lieu of notice, redundancy money and arrears of pay.
Mr Masters, the sole shareholder at the time, then sold the business later that month for £1 to Duncan Williams, a media director at Vibe Marketing Group Ltd.
Giving evidence at the tribunal in Exeter, Mr Masters denied having known Mr Williams before the deal, despite a barrister presenting evidence his name and details had appeared on the View From website and blog in December 2017.
Mr Masters said it had come as ‘a surprise’ when he was made aware of it at a later date, but said he understood Mr Williams had been interested in purchasing the titles back in July when he was the one to take it out of administration.
Mr Masters confirmed he resigned as director when the deal was struck with Mr Williams.
Mr Masters confirmed he resigned as director when the deal was struck with Mr Williams.
He added staff had been on ‘garden leave’ from January 4, but barrister James Arnold, representing the claimants told how their account of events was they had been locked out of office and told to remove their belongings and were not required to work again.
The new owner, Mr Williams, who was not present at the tribunal, claims he only purchased the intellectual property rights for the brands.
The hearing is scheduled to last for three days but on Wednesday the judge will decide whether Mr Williams is personally responsible for the claims or if Vibe Marketing Group Ltd is.
However, the claimants are likely to have to wait until next year for another hearing to make their own representations of what is owed to them.
The court heard all the employees were dismissed when the titles they worked for ceased publication on January 4.
Noting the absence of Mr Williams, employment judge Nicholas Roper said: “He has chosen not to attend.”
Evidence was given to support Mr Williams's intention to continue the business.
Mr Williams runs independent news and marketing service the Poole Post. He is also a commercial development consultant with News Group Ltd and a director of Vibe Marketing.
Mr Williams launched a crowdfunding bid, with a target of £85,000, to revive the series of closed weekly newspapers.
The employment tribunal continues.
Monday, 6 August 2018
WEST COUNTRY MEDIA GROUP SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESS
PULMAN'S WEEKLY NEWS has a proud history of bringing local news to the people of the West Country in England.
In these days of unfiltered news and fake news, locals of West Country can rely on Pulman’s Weekly News.
This West Country media brand was founded by renowned Axminster-born publisher, George Philip Rigney Pulman, way back in 1857.
Pulman’s Weekly News was the first newspaper in Crewkerne, and print pioneer George set it up having served as editor of the Yeovil Times.
Retaining our heritage value is important, as is going with the times and becoming a digital media brand. We now utilise social media for community outreach, connecting towns and people in exactly the same way as in historic times, while meeting the needs of a new generation.
Quality News Needs Local Advertisers
With the advance of technology in recent years, the role of your local newspaper has changed dramatically. But while our news may be published through different online outlets today, Pulman's Weekly News still aims to share the voice and views of the community.
So, we needed to find different ways to do that… stay relevant and stay alive.
Local media needs local advertisers… but it is a two-way street. Our brand can showcase local small businesses and non-profits in credible ways, for affordable prices, and these enterprises benefit from the increased exposure across our audience.
Pulman’s Advertising and PR Campaigns
Keep your news outlet and local focus alive by supporting Pulman’s Weekly News with your advertising and editorial ideas. We welcome all businesses and social impact enterprises in the local area to contact us.
Historic community newspaper titles such as ours add tremendous credibility to business editorials or marketing campaigns. We aim to give advertisers multi-platform options, encourage healthy social media interaction, and provide ways to assist local business and community leaders.
Local Media is Evolving Beyond Print
We asked the local community… what media forms are most used? Print is still important to rural neighbourhoods, but it no longer commands the dominance and large readerships it once had.
West Country advertisers now have a wider range of mediums to choose from. Our independent media group offers excellent public relations, social media, and video marketing services.
Our journalists and editors read and listen to news everywhere and are up with the trends of today. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – e.g. voice interaction, image recognition, and real-time capturing – is breaking down barriers for people with sensory, physical and cognitive disabilities.
Supporting New Business Start-Ups
Bringing together community and business, our news outlet can help our West Country towns and villages survive and prosper.
A local news brand is important in supporting awareness of local business. If there is a problem in business or youth employment, we want to be in a position to help solve it.
New business start-ups are of vital importance to a healthy local economy.
Pulman's Weekly News: Community Grants
This regional bursary prize named after the historic newspaper group publisher George PR Pulman continues to offer sponsorship to good causes.
Duncan Williams, who is the community outreach editor of Pulman's Weekly News & Advertiser Series, says: “The Pulman’s Award and bursary continues to uphold the same values of George Pulman and is open for nominations throughout the year”.
The bursary prize has made donations during the past 12 months to the Bibic Football Fundraiser in Yeovil, the Dorset Blind Association, and enabled the production of ‘talking’ newspapers and books for the elderly and partially sighted.
Most recently, the Pulman’s Award has helped fund the publication of a series of skills training workbooks and specially tailored courses designed to help ex-offenders find work and rebuild purposeful lives back within the community.
Leaflets and booklets have also been distributed across the West Country to help enlighten young people about the dangers of drugs and addiction.
Our History
Many West Country communities know the name George Pulman well. Considered a Victorian media mogul, he founded Pulman’s Weekly News back in 1857.
His media brands continued to be a prolific news source for over 150 years throughout the prime agricultural counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Pulman's Weekly News was always renowned for its reliability and trustworthiness. This is because his journalists researched local stories so well.
George Pulman was also a lifelong Christian who worshipped regularly at his local church in Axminster, Devon. To help rouse local attendance, George would enthusiastically play the church organ on a Sunday morning. There he met and married his young wife, who was also a regular member of the same Axminster congregation.
Throughout his life, George believed in the importance of building community: through Church, rural life and local news. He always upheld the values of truth and helped give voice to West Country causes and concerns that might otherwise have been forgotten.
Journalism was then considered as a serious and respected profession.
So in this era of fake news and political propaganda, perhaps it is time to remember the values of one of the news media’s earliest pioneers. A man of faith who built a regional media empire which lasted through multiple generations.
News publishing, in all its many forms, is still as relevant today as it was when George Pulman was alive.
Our British free press and local news media are invaluable communication tools that - when used correctly - can make our society a better place.
(George Philip Rigney Pulman: 1819 - 1880)
Wednesday, 4 July 2018
SOUTH WEST HERITAGE CENTRE ADDS NEWS WEEKLIES
South West Heritage Centre in Taunton has gratefully received a vast archive of carefully catalogued and restored local newspapers that have covered the surrounding areas for decades.
Part time media and community lecturer Duncan Williams (pictured above) says: "Regional newspapers record life in local towns in a way that creates a valuable historic testimony of rural life. While national newspapers are more focus on forging opinion leader articles, the regional press chronicles, the often fascinating detail, of daily living."
Many of the titles are out out of print, which adds to their interest.
The Pulman's Weekly News series, which served the West Country, was first launched way back in 1857.
Saturday, 17 March 2018
George Philip Rigney Pulman
The Pulman's Weekly News and Advertiser series were founded in England in 1857 by Axminster born George Pulman. (His name is often mistakenly confused with the American railroad pioneer.)
The Pulman's series are important records of a prolific Victorian era press group that went on to span multiple decades and bridge three consecutive centuries.
Over the years the Pulman's titles expanded across East Devon, West Dorset and South Somerset and were published by a succession of newspaper owners.
In 2012 the papers morphed into the Pulman's View From series, covering predominantly the same areas as before and, in keeping with the times, developed an online presence.
In 2018, following a decade of repeat financial problems, administrations and closures, the titles were bought out through a crowdfunding initiative.
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"We are very pleased to announce the launch of the new 'Pulman's Award', a prize and trophy* given to West Country individuals, or groups, who encourage the spirit of good communication, educational endeavour or community service that our founder, George P. R. Pulman embodied."
Duncan Williams,
Regional Director,
Pulman's Weekly News Group Ltd.
More about George Philip Rigney Pulman
*Sponsorship opportunities and nominations now open.
Saturday, 10 March 2018
Your local media matters
Local media remains at the heart of life in towns and villages across the West Country. Pulman's news will remain a key syndication point.
While print formats may well be decreasing, the appetite for news itself, particularly community news, is in huge demand.
Despite the scandals unearthed by the Leveson enquiry, I still believe in the power, for good, of our British press and media.
And remember, the British regional press has been largely untouched by any scandal and remains a core and very reliable source of ethical news. Pulman's News is a brand of enormous repute dating all the way back to its launch in 1857.
Here are just some of the reasons I remain committed to protecting independent press freedom and why I see value in my investment in Pulman's Weekly News Group.
Local media can do these things and more:
It can speak to communities where living standards are high, or where rural, social or economic barriers prevent people accessing vital information and education.
It can also reach people struck by isolation, loneliness and poverty.
It can help build and highlight local businesses.
It can introduce people to new ideas and help strengthen bonds within local communities.
Media can move mountains.
We help communities use it to change lives - and unite our readers through engagement and promotion of your stories.
Stories about your local towns, people and neighbourhood news.
As a West Country man born and bred, it is a privilege to be working with Pulman's Weekly News and steering the brand towards an exciting new era of multi-channel community news reporting.
Duncan Williams, Regional Media Director, Pulman's Weekly News Group Ltd.
Tuesday, 6 February 2018
LICENSED TO BLOG
"Blogs are great because we all have the chance to have our say. But with so many varieties of views and voices being able to publish on sorts of subjects and reports, regional newspaper editors might be wise to offer local digital certificates, or accredited rosettes, something like the blue ticks on twitter accounts, so as to authenticate credible and reliable sources of news."

PAYING BLOGGERS FOR THEIR CONTENT
Says Duncan: "Our local newspaper brands have established ethical reputations that have, in some cases, spanned over a hundred years or more. With the boom within the digital sphere we know that there is no shortage of content, but clearly professional local news outlets need the right sort of content and would probably be willing to pay grassroots bloggers for it.
"In an age of fake news it's always good to have a news source you can trust.
"Bloggers, Vloggers, Live-streamers and the traditional press must now work together. We seek the quality amongst the quantity."
Duncan Williams @PulmansView
Tuesday, 9 January 2018
Crowdfunding bid launched to save axed weekly news series
A media and marketing director has launched a bid to revive a series of weekly newspapers which shut last week with the loss of around 20 jobs.
Duncan Williams, left, has started a crowdfunding campaign following the closure of the ‘View From’ series – which serve towns in Dorset, Devon and Somerset.
The series has ceased publication, resulting in around 20 redundancies, less than six months after the titles were bought by Truro City Football Club chairman Peter Masters in July last year.
The purchase followed his buyout of the Liskeard-based Sunday Independent earlier in 2017.
Duncan is a commercial development consultant with News Group Ltd, and runs Dorset-based marketing service the Poole Post.
He is aiming to raise £85,000 by 3 March to buy the ‘View From’ titles and take them into community ownership.
In a pitch to potential investors on his crowdfunding page, Duncan said: “This is very sad news indeed for Dorset and the south. Local newspapers are the voice of our communities. In this era of ‘fake news’, brands that have over a 100 years of reporting creditably should not be lost. We now have a whole county dominated by American owned media giant Newsquest.
“In addition to Dorset, View News faithfully covered stories in the counties of Somerset and Devon for many years. Highlighting local interest stories and helping to profile small businesses in these areas, View News and Pulman’s Weekly News are trusted and respected brands. Too good to lose.
“We are proposing new community ownership business model. And in doing so we aim to prove to the city banks, venture capitalists and advertising agencies that regional communities value their local media.
“It offers a chance for local people to have a real stake in and to share their views and voices as part of their own local media group.”
The newspapers affected by last week’s closures are the View From titles based in Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, and the Pulman’s Weekly News which is based in Axminster.
A spokesman for the Independent said last week: “Having acquired the titles out of administration in July of last year we agreed to continue publishing the loss-making titles for six months in a bid to give continued employment for the staff.
“But in the light of continued falling revenues, we have reluctantly decided that the titles are no longer sustainable.”
Report by David Sharman for Holdthefrontpage.co.uk
The series has ceased publication, resulting in around 20 redundancies, less than six months after the titles were bought by Truro City Football Club chairman Peter Masters in July last year.
The purchase followed his buyout of the Liskeard-based Sunday Independent earlier in 2017.
Duncan is a commercial development consultant with News Group Ltd, and runs Dorset-based marketing service the Poole Post.
He is aiming to raise £85,000 by 3 March to buy the ‘View From’ titles and take them into community ownership.
In a pitch to potential investors on his crowdfunding page, Duncan said: “This is very sad news indeed for Dorset and the south. Local newspapers are the voice of our communities. In this era of ‘fake news’, brands that have over a 100 years of reporting creditably should not be lost. We now have a whole county dominated by American owned media giant Newsquest.
“In addition to Dorset, View News faithfully covered stories in the counties of Somerset and Devon for many years. Highlighting local interest stories and helping to profile small businesses in these areas, View News and Pulman’s Weekly News are trusted and respected brands. Too good to lose.
“We are proposing new community ownership business model. And in doing so we aim to prove to the city banks, venture capitalists and advertising agencies that regional communities value their local media.
“It offers a chance for local people to have a real stake in and to share their views and voices as part of their own local media group.”
The newspapers affected by last week’s closures are the View From titles based in Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, and the Pulman’s Weekly News which is based in Axminster.
A spokesman for the Independent said last week: “Having acquired the titles out of administration in July of last year we agreed to continue publishing the loss-making titles for six months in a bid to give continued employment for the staff.
“But in the light of continued falling revenues, we have reluctantly decided that the titles are no longer sustainable.”
Report by David Sharman for Holdthefrontpage.co.uk
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