31/01/13……A local’s perspective on ‘local ‘ news
Dear Editor, I have lived in Thame for the pass 27 years and love the town, local businesses and the many long term ‘characters’ of Thame and above all, the real community spirit. Many people I meet in my line of work (I am a photographer), tell me how nice Thame and the people in it are, which always brings a smile to my face.
There is only one long-term dislike for me and I am sure for others in the town and that is our so called local paper, ‘The Thame Gazette’. I know if you look closely, it does state “and District”, but from an advertisement and, more importantly, a news perspective, the focus appears to be based on Aylesbury and district.
The producers of our “local” paper are based in Buckinghamshire. Not wishing to state the obvious, but Thame is in Oxfordshire. Secondly, when events are taking place in the town, they may send a representative along for 10 minutes to write a bit of ‘blurb” or take a few pictures, then try and make a story out of it. I know this for a fact, covering as I do events in Thame as a photographer, and seeing the TG reporter/photographer turn up for a short while.
I know there are costs involved, but a newspaper full of adverts and no real news is not a newspaper; it is an advertising sheet.
Am I over-reacting or have we just come to accept this so called ‘local” paper just because it is what it is, and because it’s been around for a long time? And because it comes through our door every Friday – well sometimes on a Saturday, and sometimes not at all?
I can get through most copies in about 90 seconds and I am a slow reader.
I understand that the paper is free, but that does not make it good, worthwhile or right for Thame.
Looking at your website, https://www.thame.net, it is clear that this is a website run and developed by someone who lives in Thame, knows Thame and most of the people and businesses in it; feet on the ground, going out into the community and reporting back on it. That’s the way the local paper should be run, in my honest opinion.
I do hope that someone local who has the time, energy and resource, can maybe look into producing something new for us.
Change is GOOD and I feel it’s about time Thame had a change, to be able to say ‘Goodbye’ to the Thame Gazette, and “Hello” to The Thame Times, would be great! That’s what I say. who’s with me?
Alternatively the name could be changed to ‘The Aylesbury and District Advertiser’ with the by-line (to quote the advert (tongue in cheek), “It does exactly what it says on the tin!” Then I for one would be happier.
I intend to send a copy of this to the Thame Gazette and see if they print it in the ‘letters’ section; they should do, after all it’s a Thame person’s perspective on the local Thame paper; freedom of speech and all that?? But there again, I am not going to hold my breath.
Best Regards
Frank Millar
Thame
frankmillar@mac.com
