A sad day for local journalism in the Cambridgeshire Fens will be coming soon.
And sadly, it might not be the last.
The Cambs Times, a staple of society in the Fenland town of March and surrounding towns and villages, will cease print publication in August.
It is one of a handful of other local newspaper titles in the east that will no longer print as decided by Newsquest.
The reasons made by Newsquest, the company taking over the Cambs Times’ publisher Archant, for its decision to stop printing the newspaper are understandable and reflect what local journalism is heading towards in future in order for it to survive.
When a decision to close the newspaper was made, it came during the month where the Cambs Times turned 150-years-old.
A lot has changed since 1872 – reporters, offices, how the news is brought to you.
But wanting to inform, educate and entertain the community that newspaper serves has been integral throughout its existence.
I’ve grown up knowing the Cambs Times was one of my local newspapers, which comes out on Fridays.
“The impact of local journalism in print was perhaps far greater than today”
When my grandfather, Bill Bradshaw, sought a career in journalism it was the Cambs Times and the Wisbech Standard that helped make his name as a journalist.
In the lead-up to becoming editor and as editor, he knew what local news meant to readers, why it was important to report that news and served the Fens the best he could.
There was no website to publish onto in those days, so the impact of local journalism in print was perhaps far greater than today.
And by doing so, my grandfather ensured the newspapers he served such as the Cambs Times became well-respected and a ‘go-to’ for local news in the Fens.
Whether that was a man in court, photographs from a village fete or an FA Cup tie, the Cambs Times had it covered.
The importance of having a local newspaper grew paramount with readers, and nowadays especially for those who don’t read online.
For many, the Cambs Times acted as a backbone to developing their journalistic/media careers, a ‘good grounding’ if you like.
“One feeling that is hard to beat is seeing your name and work in print”
It was the place where I was given the chance to learn what a journalist is, what the industry is about, the medium of print and how important it is to tell readers the stories that matter.
Even if some of the news you see in print and online is developed from social media, such as a crash reported by police, a series of blazes from the fire service or a resident’s claim that turned out to be true – that’s news.
In fact, if it wasn’t newsworthy, there would be no point in reporting it.
Another key learning curve the Cambs Times has provided is the art of speaking to people from different walks of life.
From the retiring shop owner to an investigation on councillors misbehaving, these are just some examples of how getting involved in what’s happening in the local community has made the Cambs Times a ‘go-to’.
It is these opportunities that working for a local newspaper can bring you which other places may not, and can build skills you may never thought you would have.
One feeling that is hard to beat, whether as a regular reporter or a contributor, is seeing your name and work in print.
That feeling of seeing what you have produced told to different people across the community that newspaper serves, whether that’s front page or near the back, is something to be proud of.
Some of those people that were the focus of those articles that made it to print may have been pleased to see their name had ‘made it’, while others perhaps not so much. That’s the nature of the journalistic beast.
As well as news, the back pages were the places I took pride in, whether that was a match report or a player interview. The happiness of seeing sports stories grace this section never grew old, even if the amount of sport had diminished.
That’s the beauty of local journalism.
“The end is not completely nigh”
In recent years, times have changed when it comes to local journalism, where print has suffered the most.
For example, the number of sport pages in the Cambs Times has reduced significantly compared to what it was, such as in my grandfather’s day.
This change has attracted criticism from readers who may remember the Cambs Times from years ago, but readers should not feel like their concerns have not been taken on board.
As a local sports fan, this was hard to take, but a decision that may well have helped the newspaper sustain its future for longer than it might have done.
The end is not completely nigh, though, as the Cambs Times website will still be functioning, so local stories can still be told but just not in the traditional format.
This long-standing title will continue to serve its local community and other parts of the county, too, in the hope that in the digital age, it will become a sustainable ship to sail.
Sustainable not just from a corporate viewpoint, but for those who produce the content that you see online and in print, trying to do those before us proud.
One day, I and perhaps many others hope that the Cambs Times will return in print in the not too distant future.
But as long as the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard, plus the Ely Standard and other local titles are still serving the readers it has longed to serve for decades past, local journalism in the Fens can remain intact.
Dan Mason 