many community and alternative newspapers will be meeting in York for a conference. Its aim is to exchange ideas of a practical nature, as well as to discuss the role of what is rapidly becoming almost an institution writes Well over 60 papers exist around the country ranging West Highlund Free Press to papers that every six weeks and are put together with entirely voluntary labour.
While papers linked to political groups and specific campains abound in every country where they are allowed, it seems that only in Britain is there such a large number of papers that pose themselves are straightforward alternatives to Fleet Street and its subsidiaries. tion and news to communities that SUSHILLE distortion, insensitivity co local prooms, and me Doice Boar the world is centred around VARIETY No single political label could characterise the variety sent, that they share, spe SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 13 April 1976 page 15 Typig in columm. their readership in political and social action: news that the local press cares to forget: and to provide platform for those who would be heard nowhere else because ПЛеТ opinions have deemed irrelevant or undesiraDic SECTARIANISM These newspapers act focuses for local campaigns. be they for the restoration of cuts, against racists against fare rises, the community.
or sectarian groups be publish party propaganda, usually anxious to give reprelocality whe are taking action aver issues that chicer everyarcin it, I needs to be emphasised, of though, that soctarianism has been the downfall communicy LICSOULS ever, is the desire to levolve | the Manchester Mole Express.
see it as vital for their papers to be amca at the unconverted and not taken up with debates Inal COnCeEn of their readership.
The idea of the York conference is not to formalise definitions should be. The main emphasis will be to exchange information that can help chis phenomenon gain popularity and help the papers themselves to be better supply the organised in terms of production, writing and finance.
WORKSHOPS
The workshops will be dealing fascism: how to obtain official tu report it and deal with ic in LAL COILLIES DUE 080.1 and how toliven up the papers.
There will also be a teach-in workshop to help newly-started and fascists, papers and inose who want co or for the star them.
Anyone can take part in these While many newspapers, and any group of people can get рарет. It is to be hoped that the conference people to da both thesethings.
Detuils of the conference con he abtained from: Vork Free Preis, 73 Walmgate, York. Tel: 0904-29736. Or from Peoples Service, Street, London NI. Tel: 01-359 alternative 3785. PNS can supply details of sour local papers and who to get in touch with.