The NEN made the front page of the NEN this month - we've reached the milestone of 300 editions. That's not bad going for a wee community newspaper, so the achievement gave us the chance to blow our own trumpet (and honestly, there wasn't an alternative front page lead this month!)
However the celebration was short-lived - last Friday, we received the news that the city council is to slash funding to the Edinburgh Community Newspaper Trust (of which NEN is part), effectively shutting down the city's wee stable of community newspapers. Now a cut in funding was not unexpected - like every other voluntary organisation in the city we have been anxiously awaiting news of the council's deliberations - but the way in which the news was delivered was disappointing to say the very least. We got an email informing us of the council's recommendations at lunchtime on Friday, with no prior warning of the scale of the cut and giving our voluntary board of directors little time to organise a response before this Thursday's council meeting.
I have to declare on interest here, naturally - I have worked with North Edinburgh News for nine years - but I genuinely believe that the NEN is an important part of community life in this part of the world. It's what many, many people have told me when I am out and about covering stories every day. People like the NEN, and look forward to receiving it every month.
Yes, the council must balance it's books but it seems to me that they have gone for an easy hit here and singled out an organisation that does not easily fir into any of the usual pigeon-holes. There has been no time or opportunity for community newspapers to argue their corner, and it's now left to councillors to debate and decide where funding should go and what projects should be prioritised. I would imagine that the council will go with the recommendations in the report on Thursday, and I think it's a mistake and a real pity - and I would say that whether I worked with the NEN or not.
Whatever the council decides over the future of ECNT, however, there is a lifeline for the NEN at least. The majority of our funding comes through COmmunity Regeneration Funding (CRF), which is now to be distributed through the new Neighbourhood Partnerships. Discussions on CRF funding (actually it's successor Fairer Scotland funding, but I'm trying hard not to bore you here!) have only just begun and there will be an opportunity here to at least put forward a case for the NEN. As I say there is a lot of community goodwill for the NEN, and I feel a campaign coming on ...
While the news from the council last weekend was bleak, I was heartened by the performance of some of the sporting minnows last weekend - in the FA Cup the giants were humbled one after the other by minnows like Bradford and Cardiff, and Scotland, not given a hope beforehand, turned England over at Murrayfield. I don't want to sound like some 'Thought for the Day' clergyman here, but 'you know, sometimes the wee guy can face up to the big guy and win'. We'll see - I won't mention wee Gretna, a true life fairytale that's turning into a nightmare as the club goes into receivership - but, while we may not make it to 400 editions, I certainly don't plan to be writing the final chapter anytime soon.
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