Council says it will not work with ‘hate publications’

Gloucester City Council says it will not work with the Sun and Daily Mail newspapers because it deems them to be ‘hate’ publications.

The Conservative-run local authority has taken the decision as part of its new marketing and tourism plans for the city.

The council says this approach is part of its move to be as ethical as possible in its promotion of the city.

But council leaders were quizzed about the new strategy during a meeting this week.

Councillor Terry Pullen (Lab, Moreland) told the overview and scrutiny committee on January 31 he was really pleased to see the council would not work with ‘hate publications’.

But he was puzzled by remarks by council leaders that this new stance had been included in the report by error.

The council’s Tourism and Destination Marketing Plan 2022, which was published as part of the meeting agenda, says: “We decided we would not work with ‘hate’ publications such as the Sun and the Daily Mail.”

But culture and leisure cabinet member Andy Lewis (Con, Quedgeley Severn Vale) said it was put in by mistake.

“I wouldn’t describe them as hate publications but I regard them as opinionated which a lot of publications are,” Cllr Lewis said.

“But hate is a little bit strong to say the least. There’s two and a half to three million copies of those sold every single day.

“Now if you are going to alienate a whole group of people, including my parents, for reading one of those publications, I think it’s wrong.

“They might be opinionated but then they are 90-years-old. Do you know a 90-year-old who can’t be opinionated?

“But, it was put in by error and as soon as we spotted it, sorry, it came out because that’s not what we are about.”

Cllr Pullen asked for clarification.

“So it was put in by officers and then the cabinet withdrew it?

“Is that what we’re saying?”

“It was put in by mistake,” Cllr Lewis replied.

Cllr Lewis also said they want to focus on online marketing in a bid to attract younger visitors to the city.

“I know the press are here but I think the day of reading the paper and whatever is more of a generational thing,” he said.

He said the council was targeting people who are under 25 and have more of a disposable income.

“They are the ones that want to go out. They aren’t afraid of this Covid thing,” he said.

“They’ve been held back for two years and they are desperate to get out there.”

The city council was approached for an official comment about their tourism strategy.

A spokesperson said: “Visit Gloucester have decided to be relevant to their audience that they will support recent campaigns to ensure an ethical approach to its marketing activities going forwards.”

News UK and DMG Media have been approached for comment.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk