Council newspapers

Dear Sir / Madam

I write to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information enquiry.

This is receiving attention and you can expect a response within 20
working
days.

Unless you specify otherwise, you will receive your response in either
electronic or hard copy format.

Yours sincerely

Pete Samuels
Service Advice Officer
The Basildon Centre
St Martins Square
Basildon
Essex
SS14 1DL
[1][email address]

From: L Barnett <[2][FOI #25780 email]>
To: FOI requests at Basildon District Council
<[3][Basildon District Council request email]>
Date: 03/01/2010 16:13
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Council newspapers

Dear Basildon District Council,

Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, I wish to
receive the following information from your authority:

1. The name, frequency and distribution/circulation of your council
newspaper (by council newspaper I mean the most frequently
published newspaper or magazine intended for mass distribution
covering more than one topic)

2. How much it cost to produce and distribute said newspaper in the
last full financial year, and how much was budgeted from council
resources in the financial year 2009/2010

3. How much of that cost is offset by advertising

4. How much of that advertising, if any, comes from external
sources (ie not from your authority's budgets)?

5. Which other public sector partners pay to run advertising in
your newspaper, eg PCTs?

6. Whether recruitment advertising forms part of the advertising in
your newspaper?

7. A copy of an editorial policy guide, if one exists, which
governs the material which is placed in the newspaper, and how it
is decided

8. A copy of an advertising policy guide, if one exists, which
governs what sort of advertising is suitable.

9. The number of people employed to put your newspaper/newsletter
together, including total cost and staff organisation chart

Some parts of this request may be easier to answer than others, and
should this prove to be the case I would ask that you release
available data as soon as possible rather than hold up the entire
request.

I would prefer to receive this information electronically. If the
decision is made to withhold some of this data using exemptions in
Act, please inform me of that fact and cite the exemptions used.

If you need any clarification then please contact me at the email.
Under your section 16 duty to provide advice and assistance I would
expect you to contact me if you find this request unmanageable in
any way.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have
received this request, and I look forward to hearing from you in
the near future.

Yours faithfully,

L Barnett

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Barnett

I refer to your Freedom of Information request submitted on 4th Jan

I have added the response from Basildon District Council below :-

1. The name, frequency and distribution/circulation of your council
newspaper (by council newspaper I mean the most frequently published
newspaper or magazine intended for mass distribution covering more than
one topic)
We have a publication called The District Diary which is distributed to
all households in the Basildon district (approximately 77,000). It is a
key communications channel for Basildon Council to deliver important
information to residents across the district about Council services,
policies and performance. It is also a means for residents to find contact
information for the Council and to feedback their views and questions.
Research across local government shows that a good Council newspaper may
help significantly improve residents' satisfaction with their local
authority, as they are likely to feel better informed and more in touch
with their Council. Historically, the District Diary has been published up
to four times a year. However, as of 2009 this has increased to six times
a year.

2. How much it cost to produce and distribute said newspaper in the last
full financial year, and how much was budgeted from council resources in
the financial year 2009/2010
The print and distribution cost of each edition of the District Diary is
approximately *8,000. All other costs (such as staff and design) are
absorbed by the Marketing and Communications department.

3. How much of that cost is offset by advertising
Each edition generates approximately *2,500 of advertising income. Our aim
is to off-set the cost of the publication by generating advertising
income.

4. How much of that advertising, if any, comes from external sources (ie
not from your authority's budgets)?
In 2009, approximately *1,500 per edition of advertising income was
generated by the District Diary from external advertisers.

5. Which other public sector partners pay to run advertising in your
newspaper, eg PCTs?
The District Diary has received advertising income from NHS South West
Essex, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership. However, our public
sector partners are also offered editorial space within each edition which
is not linked to advertising spend.

6. Whether recruitment advertising forms part of the advertising in your
newspaper?
Recruitment advertising does not currently form part of the District
Diary's advertising.

7. A copy of an editorial policy guide, if one exists, which governs the
material which is placed in the newspaper, and how it is decided
The District Diary does not have a written editorial policy.

8. A copy of an advertising policy guide, if one exists, which governs
what sort of advertising is suitable.
The District Diary does not have a written advertising policy.

9. The number of people employed to put your newspaper/newsletter
together, including total cost and staff organisation chart
The District Diary is produced by Basildon Council's Marketing and
Communications team, with support and input from staff from other
departments in the Council. No member of staff is employed specifically to
work on the District Diary.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision
you should write to:

Ms S.Marriott
Customer Service Manager - Communication
The Basildon Centre
St Martins Square
Basildon
Essex
SS14 1DL

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally the ICO
cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure
first. The ICO can be contacted at The Information Commissioner*s Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SKP 5AF

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications

Yours sincerely
Pete Samuels
Service Advice Officer

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