Monopoly Concerns

It is with mixed feelings that this blog has read about the KM Group bid for seven Kent newspaper titles.

The proposed purchase, which is subject to approval by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), involves the Medway News, Isle of Thanet Gazette, Thanet Times, Folkestone Herald, Dover Express, the Times series covering Canterbury, Faversham, Whitstable and Herne Bay, and the East Kent Gazette.

The titles are currently owned by Kent Regional News and Media (KRNM)

Given Medway, a conurbation of some 220,000 residents is currently only served by two major newspapers; News and Messenger, it is extremely concerning to note that the KM Group would have an effective monopoly over the area.

Whilst this blog has nothing against the KM Group it is simply not healthy in a democracy for one provider to have such dominance over local news, and indeed does raise questions about whether the KM Group will remain impartial and investigative of Conservative Council practices.

This issue comes on the back of the Medway Messenger having given Tracey Crouch MP a regular column in its regular Friday edition, so giving the Conservatives two out of the four political slots. Given the other slots were from leaders of respective Council Groups it looks very odd that the independent group, which only has one member less than the Liberal Democrats, was not as this blog understands, offered the slot.

The proposed acquisition is subject to a 40-working day investigation by the OFT who I believe should look at this purchase with caution.

A subsuming of the Medway News would be an utterly unwanted development locally and should be opposed by residents.

We need a healthy press and not a monopoly of opinion, news or comment.