The Society of Editors (SoE) and Newspaper Society's plans on competition rules for local newspapers are 'bonkers', a former president of the society said last night.

Speaking at a Frontline Club debate on the future of local media, former regional newspaper editor Keith Sutton said the industry groups should stop pushing for relaxing controls over regional and local newspaper mergers

"They're [newspapers] buying this ridiculous argument that we are not a monopoly because we don't have a monopoly on advertising," said Sutton.

"Providing there are lots of people competing to deliver these audiences, nobody comes along and says there's a public duty to inform."

The government should not 'simply accede' to the societies' request, added fellow panellist and media commentator Roy Greenslade.

"Plurality isn't about whether you offer plural options to advertisers, it's whether you offer plural options to citizens," he said.

The government and industry groups should be considering a form of state-subsidised journalism instead, he added.

Local media must consider alternative business models including state-funding, which if managed centrally and carefully would not affect the independence of journalism, he said.

This would not be local councils funding local newspapers, such as the soon-to-be launched Barking and Dagenham Council newspaper, he added, but 'a national fund properly overseen' supporting journalism over organisations.

"Journalism funded by private capital has failed in that the business model has failed. We need to find another model, because what we're talking about here is the saviour of journalism and not the saviour of big organisations," he said.