Council newspapers

L Barnett made this Freedom of Information request to Christchurch Borough Council

The request was successful.

From: L Barnett

3 January 2010

Dear Christchurch Borough 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

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From: Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Christchurch Borough Council

4 January 2010

Dear L Barnett

Information Request

I am writing to acknowledge your request for information received 4
January 2010.

We are dealing with your request and will be in contact with you again.
In most cases we will reply within 20 working days. If, for any reason,
this is not possible we will let you know.

If you have any complaints in respect of your information request,
please write to the Chief Executive at the address below or complete the
on-line complaint form that can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com. If
your complaint is not resolved to your complete satisfaction, you have
the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

Yours sincerely

Simon Merritt

Legal and Electoral Officer
Christchurch Borough Council

Tel: 01202 495158
Fax:
Email: [email address]
Web: http://www.dorsetforyou.com

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From: Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Christchurch Borough Council

4 January 2010

Dear L Barnett

Information Request

The Council has the information you asked for. Please find the answers to your questions 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)

The Christchurch Courier, 4 times per year, distributed to every household in the Borough (24,000 copies)

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

Cost for last financial year £19,116. Budgeted at £19,670 for 2009/10.

3. How much of that cost is offset by advertising

Advertising income for last year £3,410

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

All of it.

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

Dorset Police had one ad last year, all others private companies.

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

No

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

None exists - decision lies with editor

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

None exists - decision lies with editor

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

One part-time person (Council's PR Officer) - difficult to cost as it forms a small part of the job - guesstimate c. £4,000 p.a.

I hope this satisfies your request. If you have any complaints in respect of your information request, please write to the Chief Executive at the address below or complete the on-line complaint form that can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com. If your complaint is not resolved to your complete satisfaction, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

Yours sincerely

Simon Merritt

Legal and Electoral Officer
Christchurch Borough Council

Tel: 01202 495158
Fax:
Email: [email address]
Web: http://www.dorsetforyou.com

show quoted sections

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
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