The latest edition of the Purbeck Gazette has been published today however it won’t be popping through people’s doors, as it’s only available online because of the collapse in advertising revenue.
With many local businesses currently closed or not offering services due to COVID-19, most aren’t advertising at the moment. This shortfall in cash means that the popular publication can’t cover the cost of printing and distributing, however regular readers will be pleased to know that like the May edition, an online version has still been produced this month.
Publishing online only
The Purbeck Gazette Editor, Nico Johnson, writing in the June edition said:
“For the second time in our history, we are publishing online only, rather than on paper. Again, this is due to the fact that the vast majority of our advertisers are currently closed.
“I must ensure that I firstly thank those wonderful volunteers who have stepped in to help us while the staff are furloughed due to a complete lack of revenue – to Muriel, a retired book-keeper who is helping keep our accounts up-to-date and to those who have assisted in putting the magazine together for the second month in a row – thank you so very much.”
Usually 20,000 copies of The Purbeck Gazette are printed and distributed across Purbeck and the surrounding area including Dorchester, Lulworth and Bere Regis. The magazine includes news articles, features, regular columnists and a popular letters page.
Struggled to pay its rent
With the unexpected revenue crisis, the media company has even struggled to pay its rent but it’s been helped by some generous donations. Nico Johnson added:
“Thanks also to the two very kind and generous individuals who donated to the Purbeck Gazette last month – together you enabled us to cover our office rent for May, so we are hugely grateful to you both. The Gazette will return in the near future in its printed form, but we must quite obviously wait until we have enough advertising revenue to cover the cost of printing and distributing.”
The June edition of The Purbeck Gazette can be read online here
