It seems that both Tonbridge and Hildenborough have at long last taken on new community columnists, as reported in an amazing exclusive in the Courier's (allegedly) Tonbridge edition this weekend. Good luck to them both and I would be interested to hear whether or not the Courier ended up back tracking and are actually going to pay them; or are the executives at the billion pound turnover Associated Newspapers Group insisting on being tight fisted and making these community reporters roles "voluntary." I should have thought that voluntary is for charities and worthy organisations and not to help a rich newspaper conglomorate sell newspapers. But that's just me!...
As a post script to that: when are the Courier going to stop referring to "our town" in their leader columns when speaking about Tunbridge Wells? Doesn't the editor have the sense to know that this is a sensitive topic for those people born and bred in Tonbridge, from whence the Courier newspaper evolved. It has become now a standing joke in Tonbridge, has it not, that the paper is now basically a Tunbridge Wells newspaper which occasionally, and somewhat relunctantly, remembers its roots....
2 comments:
Good luck to them I say especially if they are volunteers. Where would we be in this world if there wasn't volunteering even in our opportunistic and capitalistic society. But ... you will be a hard act to follow. Actually I only ever looked at the column a few times so who am I to comment.
Too right. Nothing wrong with volunteering, I would do it if it wasn't 'policed' by the paper. It would be better if there were several local Blogs in it, not just 'adverts' for jumble sales. If there was a topic could be discussed like 'domestic violence in the village', 'loneliness in villages', 'lack of disabled facilities in the area' or 'how the hell did that planning application get accepted?' etc it would be good. I know lots of people who find Hildenborough lonely. A local forum would be good to discuss worthy subjects.
Yes, TonbridgeR - volunteers are great. Money isn't everything. We don't want Fat Cat Community Capitalists in paper. Information should be available for rich and poor.
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