NEWSPAPER CRISIS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17112, 6 April 1921, Page 8

NEWSPAPER CRISIS.

Newspapers are facing a grave crisis, says the "Sunday Chronicle" (London) on February 6th. The "Daily Express" states tMt three metropolitan newspapers, none of them' of a very large circulation, are offered for sale. The position, of the,newspaper industry, it is added, is extremely serious, the high cost of paper or newsprint precluding any possibility qf profit,- and, indeed, causing a loss for nearly every newspaper in the country. Some of the losses, it states, run into enormous figures; A few qf the more fortunate Manchester proprietors with connexions in London are not so desperately cornered, but so far as the great majority of newspapers are concerned, the situation is desperate. .'* . The assertions made by the ''Daily Express," so far as < they. relate generally to all the leading" morning newspapers losing money, are not exaggerated, and it may be stated fairly that Sroprietors cannot possibly hope to prouce their journals, except at great loss, under present circumstances. This has been brought- about by enormous increases in the cost of production in paper and in. wages. Increases have been going op'for some time, but they have, now become so enormous that some steps are bound to- be taken almost immediately. In its statements concerning Manchester proprietors, the "Daily Express" is hardly correct. There is no difference at aU between the position of Manchester newspapers and thai of London newspapers. They- are suffering from exactly the same difficulties, and these difficulties, are not of a temporary character, because prices do not look like falling for some time. If some steps are not taken immedidiately, the result will be very serious —unemployment, the dissipation of capital, the disruption of the newspaper industry, and very great inconvenience to the public, •as well as the possibility of newspapers getting into hands that might not be disposed to conduct them on lines generally so fair and reliable as at present. The obvious remedy is. to increase the price of' morning newspapers, .many of " which are being published now below- . cost. The "Simday Chronicle" does- not think there is any serious difficulty in taking this step. Neospap<»»s cannot any longer bear the burden of material costs and the very heavy demands of labour. Increase in price is the only way out, and. the public, realising the facts, would endorse such action. It is altogether to the public Benefit to have an efficient Press._. Unless steps are taken to meet rising costs, that efficiency is bound to suffer.