Council defends its paper in face of Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle anti-'propaganda' campaign

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Hammersmith and Fulham Council says its free paper h&f news was launched to "fill a void" because for over 10 years Trinity Mirror "had no interest in our borough and produced newspapers that very few residents wanted to read".

Last Friday, the Trinity Mirror owned Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle launched a "Proper Papers Not Propaganda" campaign, as a demonstration against the council-owned h&f news .

The Chronicle, which recently relaunched as a freesheet, said it wanted to raise residents' awareness of the council publication's background and cost - and "make it clear that if h&f news continues unchallenged then local democracy and freedom of speech are severely compromised."

While not calling for the paper to cease publishing, the Chronicle said it wanted to "stop h&f news in its current format".

A petition and articles around the issue were launched and this week the paper plans to unveil outdoor advertising around the area.

"The format, content and frequency of the h&f news is quite clearly intended to look and feel like a genuine newspaper, which of course it is not. It is outrageous that the council is using taxpayers' money to produce a publication that masquerades as a newspaper but which instead produces biased council spin," said Simon Edgley, managing director of Trinity Mirror Southern.

In response to the Chronicle campaign, a spokesperson from h&f council told Journalism.co.uk that h&f news "is a very popular newspaper with residents and advertisers because it supports their community".

"Our residents want to know what their council is doing. They expect us to promote community groups, theatres, businesses and schools.

"h&f News was launched to fill a communications void because, for more than 10 years, Trinity Mirror had no interest in our borough and produced newspapers that very few residents wanted to read.

"While we welcome The Chronicle going free, it is still very much early days and their readership and circulation has yet to be proven. h&f is a vibrant borough that deserves a strong, vibrant media," the spokesperson said.

But it's not just regional newspapers who are attacking the council freesheets: they were also criticised by investigative journalist Heather Brooke this week , who calls the publications 'Pravda-style rags'.

In her new book, The Silent State ( serialised by the Mail on Sunday at this link ) she argues that "PR is infecting public institutions and destroying our democracy".

"My prediction is this: the more officials take over the news the more our money will be wasted. Scrutiny by the public keeps the powerful honest," she writes.

Brooke also discusses the issue with Andrew Marr on Radio 4's Start the Week, currently available to listen to at this link.