David Newell, director of the Newspaper Society, hit back at the consultation paper. "It fails to understand the role of regional and local newspapers, and the competitive environment in which they operate. Ofcom could now be given the ability to control the way in which local media develops alongside national media," he said.
The society has also voiced fears that the government has not even begun to address the regional newspaper industry's concerns over newspaper transfers and cross-media ownership restrictions.
A report published by the Newspaper Society recommends that the current regulations restricting newspaper and cross-media mergers and acquisitions should be relaxed and that newspapers should be subject only to general competition law. Current legislation bars newspaper owners who control more than 20% of the market from owning a terrestrial TV station or radio broadcaster.
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