Bedworth Echo Explained

Bedworth Echo
Type:Weekly newspaper
Format:Tabloid
Founder:Alan Robinson
Mort Birch
Publisher:Coventry Newspapers
Political:Non-partisan
Language:English
Foundation:1979
Ceased Publication:July 2009
Headquarters:8 High Street
Bedworth
Warwickshire
Publishing Country:England
Sister Newspapers:Coventry Citizen
Hinckley Herald
Hinckley Times
Nuneaton Tribune

The Bedworth Echo[1] [2] was a weekly paid-for newspaper which was founded in 1979.[3] [4] The Echo was the only newspaper to exclusively serve Bedworth.[5] It was further distributed to the neighbouring market town of Nuneaton, as well as Atherstone, Coventry, Hinckley, and Market Bosworth.[6]

The newspaper was co-founded by former Nuneaton Evening Tribune sports writer Mort Birch and former Nuneaton Observer sports editor Alan Robinson.[7] [8] It was owned by Midlands-based publishing group Coventry Newspapers Limited, a division of the Trinity Mirror Midlands group.[9] [10] [11]

In June 2007, journalists at the Bedworth Echo, who were also members of the National Union of Journalists, voted to go on strike to protest over their pay after explaining they were unhappy with other newspaper centres owned by the group for 'earning more for doing the same job'.[12] The Echo journalists went on strike with Coventry Newspaper journalists from their sister titles, including The Coventry Citizen, Coventry Evening Telegraph, The Hinckley Herald & Journal, The Hinckley Times and The Nuneaton Weekly Tribune.[13] The 24-hour walk-out strike and temporary stoppage took place on Friday 17 June 2007.[14]

In November 2007, The Birmingham Press Club announced their shortlist for the Midlands Media Awards. John Harris, a then-reporter at the title was nominated for News Reporter of the Year and Sports Journalist of the Year at the awards that year.[15]

Meetings were held back in September 2008 by the paper's publisher, Trinity Mirror Midlands, where executives proposed potentially making cuts and redundancies at their localised titles including the Echo.[16] Mike O'Brien, MP for Warwickshire at the time, tried to tackle the cuts calling them 'serious attacks on news, journalists and journalism', further explaining the point that 'the Bedworth Echo has no office in the town' and that "some fine journalists try to keep in touch from a distance". Steve Brown, Trinity Mirror's regional director agreed to meet O'Brien to talk over the plans.[17] [18]

In July 2009, the redundancies and cutbacks which were discussed a year prior were officially announced. The news was broken coming out of a meeting held by Trinity Mirror executives. As a result, 94 jobs were set to be cut across nine regional newspapers, with jobs at the Bedworth Echo affected.[19] [20] [21] [22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bedworth Echo - British Library . . 10 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Bedworth Echo - Data - ABC . Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) . 11 January 2021.
  3. Web site: Bedworth Echo - British Library . . 10 January 2021.
  4. Web site: icCoventry - Weekly Titles . icCoventry . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030126035922/http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/aboutus/portfolio/portfolioopportunities/page.cfm?objectid=12286802&method=full&siteid=50003 . 26 January 2003.
  5. Web site: Advertise in the Bedworth Echo - Advertising in Coventry, Warwickshire . Trinity Mirror Midlands . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090509214111/http://www.trinitymirror-midlands.co.uk/portfolio/newspapers/coventrywarwick/bedworthecho.html . 9 May 2009.
  6. Web site: Newspaper Reports . The Newspaper Society . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040820143347/http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk/newspaperdetail.cfm?paperid=76 . 20 August 2004.
  7. News: Malyon . Mike . Sportsman and Bedworth United servant Alan Robinson dies, aged 71 . 11 January 2021 . The Coventry Telegraph . 23 October 2013 . en.
  8. News: Hudson . Nick . Nuneaton & Bedworth Post to close . 11 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page.
  9. Web site: Amra - Midlands . Amra . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040612233402/http://www.amra.co.uk/docs/papers/midlands.htm . 12 June 2004 . 12 June 2004.
  10. Web site: Midlands division of Trinity Mirror . Trinity Mirror Midlands . 11 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040717030024/http://www.trinitymirror-midlands.co.uk/areadetails.cfm?parentid=2&areaid=42 . 17 July 2004.
  11. Web site: Bedworth Echo - Data - ABC . Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) . 11 January 2021.
  12. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Coventry journalists vote to strike in protest over pay . 10 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 25 June 2007.
  13. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Coventry journalists vote to strike in protest over pay . 10 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 25 June 2007.
  14. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Coventry journalists vote to strike in protest over pay . 10 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 25 June 2007.
  15. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Midlands Media Awards shortlist is revealed . 10 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 26 November 2007.
  16. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Trinity boss to meet local MP over job cutbacks . 11 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 19 September 2008.
  17. News: Patrick . Warwickshire MP: Trinity cuts are serious attacks on journalism . 10 January 2021 . . 22 September 2008.
  18. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Trinity boss to meet local MP over job cutbacks . 11 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 19 September 2008.
  19. News: Hold the Front Page Staff. Nine newspapers to close as 94 jobs go . 10 January 2021 . Hold the Front Page . 1 July 2009.
  20. News: Oliver . Laura . Trinity Mirror confirms proposed closure of Midlands weeklies . 10 January 2021 . . 1 July 2009.
  21. News: Ponsford . Dominic . Trinity Mirror to close nine newspapers in Midlands . 10 January 2021 . Press Gazette . 1 July 2009.
  22. News: Local newspapers in peril - The town without news . 11 January 2021 . The Economist . 23 July 2009.

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