MP Ross backs local press
Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the fact that amendments to the Data Protection Bill, that would have punished local and regional papers with cost sanctions if they did not sign up to a state-backed regulator, have been dropped. This would have made publishers liable to pay for claimants’ costs in data protection disputes, regardless of the outcome, and threaten the very existence of many local newspapers.
Douglas believed that at a time when the industry is already facing increasing challenges through digitalisation, which have caused revenues to drop, the implications of having to pay for claimants’ cases - win or lose - would have caused many local titles to go out of business due to increased cost in legal fees.
Many local newspaper publishers argued that the amendment proposed would have led to more local titles closing, with a detrimental effect on communities who depend on their local paper. Douglas had pledged to vote against these proposals but the Labour party dropped their amendment shortly before the vote was due to take place in the House of Commons.
Commenting Douglas said:
“Local newspapers in Moray are the lifeblood of communities. The amendment put forward by Labour was a serious threat to their existence, it was right they dropped this ridiculous amendment.
“There has already been a down turn in advertising through local papers and increased use of social media for news has presented the industry with immense challenges. Introducing any further unwanted and unnecessary regulation would have only obstructed publishers further.
“We should be doing everything to support local newspapers instead of burdening them with additional regulation and cost and that is why I could never have supported the amendment. We are immensely well served by the local press in Moray and I will continue to stand up for them and the excellent job they do.”