“The Weardale Gazette – the uphill journey of a rural community newspaper”

The Weardale Gazette was born in 1986 in unusual and uncertain circumstances. Indeed, it is no claim to fame to say that the earliest part of its journey along a very rocky road was accompanied by changing personnel, desperate finances and an unpredictable product. Their combination, we believe, made the paper unique! Only the briefest outline need detain you here but more can be read to your amusement and disbelief as you click elsewhere.

First, not much thought had been given to a local newspaper before an education forum convened by the Adult Education Department of Durham University and Durham Rural Community Council met in Stanhope Town Hall. Its object was “to interest people in the social and economic future of Weardale and to consider ideas for practical projects which could realistically be developed to tackle local needs and problems”. One encouraging idea was the need for a newspaper to cater for the Dale’s residents and local advertisers. A handful of folk was enthusiastic but to create anything resembling a business plan there and then was much too premature. 

A steering group of brave souls, all volunteers, got together and produced a sample paper followed by the first edition proper in October 1987. The original 1987 team of six volunteers deserve generous commendations for devotion to duty - hard work, unpaid and time-consuming. Only one - Bob Marshall, Frosterley, Company secretary - is still with the paper today. From its inception, a small grant was available while local traders also offered their support with advertising. There was growing enthusiasm in the Dale for the project. Premises in Stanhope market-place were loaned and nine monthly editions were produced before the infant Gazette moved on to new accommodation, first at Eastgate, three miles up-valley, and later in the Dale’s Centre in Stanhope. Interestingly, after ten years of travail and travel elsewhere, the Gazette’s fourth home is now the building next door to that occupied briefly in 1987 – which is now a funeral parlour.

By 1988, the pioneer team had broken up. A controlling board was created with local Wolsingham businessman Bill Holden as chairman and Phil Sewell from Eastgate the new editor. The paper was assembled in a cramped portakabin at Eastgate, a gift from Blue Circle Cement. This critical second phase marked a new beginning. Up to then, the underfunded paper had been very dependent upon public donations and unpaid labour. The finances were in a mess. All credit to the new board. It created a private company limited by guarantee which put the business on a sound footing. Development grants were obtained and invested in a computer, typesetting and photocopying equipment. Typesetter, Sheila Hogarth, graphic designer Maureen Thomas and Hilary Poole, office administrator, were added to the staff. Much credit was due to the hard-working Phil Sewell, the new editor in holding things together. (For more about Phil Click here).

   In 1990, Tom Ayre, Lanehead, joined the board with new chairman, Dr. N. Deytrikh, chairman, and editor Phil Sewell. Almost immediately, Tom became the editor, holding the post for the next five years. His influence in shaping the production, content and policy of the Weardale Gazette was immense.(For more about Tom Click here).

 Financial hardship overshadowed everything. The company’s debts were too large. Most were covered by a bank loan and, for the first time, readers were charged (30p) for the 20-page newspaper. The board was criticised for that but strongly believed that if you get something for nothing, that is just about what it is worth. Macdonald Press, Tudhoe, our printer, allowed the company much credit and Malcolm Macdonald himself became one of the new directors. 

By 1992, it became obvious that if the small company was to survive, it had to expand and be placed on a proper business footing. The company needed an injection of capital. A new Limited Liability company was created to be known as the Weardale Publishing and Printing Company. 25,000 one-pound  shares were offered to Dale’s residents. The move was successful. However, it was made very clear to every potential shareholder that their support was primarily to guarantee the long-term future of the Weardale Gazette as a community newspaper and there could not be any realistic hope of a quick return on their investment. And so it has been. 

The co-operation and loyalty of our shareholders have been a mainstay in keeping the journey on the road, especially up to 1997. Shortly after the sale of shares, Weardale Publishing was able to combine the Portakabin office with a move to rented premises upstairs in the Dale’s Centre in Stanhope. It was nothing more than a single room but it was more convenient for the public than our base at Eastgate. Also, it had been possible to lease a colour photocopier and set up a small second-hand book display both of which boosted income. By now, Tom Ayre had retired as editor and was replaced by former Sunderland Echo journalist John Hobbs of Daddry Shield.(For more about John Click here). Unfortunately, the much-improved Stanhope site did not compensate sufficiently for the confined space, the rent and, of course, the wages of anchor woman Sheila Hogarth and business manager Maureen Thomas who were greatly overworked (and underpaid) and labouring under intolerable conditions. So the Weardale Gazette was plunged into another crisis. If the company were to survive, let alone expand, new premises  in Stanhope were essential. 

It was touch and go! Eventually, a small house in the market-place was bought in 1997 for £25,500 The portakabin was returned to Blue Circle and the Dale’s Centre was vacated. The directors and one friend loaned the necessary cash over a long term at minimal interest – and, at last, the company had its own office which is now well-known and much-used.

In 1998, Anita Atkinson replaced John Hobbs as editor. (For more about Anita Click here). The foot-and-mouth epidemic which had reduced business allowed the company to receive welcome compensatory grants. These were put to excellent use in the purchase of new computer, printer and scanner equipment – supplemented by other IT gifts. 

And so we come to 2002- 2003 and certainly the biggest strides of all. In August last year, the decision to publish fortnightly Gazettes came as a surprise to our readers and, if we are honest, to ourselves as well! It meant extra work for the editor and the office staff but we are convinced this is a better service and it does help a little with our finances. The ‘green’ and ‘blue’ papers are now well established.

More good news came this year. Through the interest and generosity of one shareholder, who seeks no publicity, the directors were able to match a grant from European agency Leader Plus, resulting in  funding totalling £18,400 – El Dorado, as far as Weardale Publishing was concerned! This money was spent mainly on extra technology, including the purchase of a full colour photo-copier, and improvements to our property, upstairs and downstairs. However, there is no complacency about anything at the Gazette. Complacency is not a word we are used to. We need to find even more resources to employ another person and to increase our sales further.

 Finally, we remain a community newspaper read over a wider area than ever. We are non-party political, of course, but we speak out and campaign against the unfair, unjust and incompetent. Everyone is able to have a voice through the Gazette. We are pleased that much of the paper’s content comes by fax, e-mail, letter, phone and personal attendance at the office – which is not to minimise in any way the sterling efforts of Anita, our ubiquitous editor, whose many qualities have done much to raise the profile of the Weardale Gazette.