A little birdie has whispered to me that, should he be elected, Lutfur Rahman is considering scrapping East End Life – Tower Hamlets council’s hated £1m-a-year propaganda paper.
I’d imagine that there would be a cheaper and less frequent replacement, perhaps a fortnightly or monthly paper.
It would be a clever, sure-fire vote winner and it would undoubtedly please my former employers at the East London Advertiser.
Watch this space…
UPDATE – 9.40pm
I’m hearing that East End Life is highly likely to be pared back considerably. It is considered by those likely to be in power come October that is “outrageous” that East End Life has such a heavy pagination and that it carries restaurant reviews and TV listings. All the elements of the paper which effectively means it competes with the East London Advertiser and other local papers are likely to go. It will be a much thinner paper, but it is likely to remain weekly for the time being.
Trial by Jeory 
It’s a deeply unfashionable opinion, but I love East End Life. I rely on the listings about kids activities and cultural events, the greenery news and the history bits.
About 3/4 of it should go (not just the bits you mention but also the endless Good News about how everything’s just getting BETTER), but I hope the council retains a weekly.
I can understand the campaign by your former employers to try and get rid of EEL, as it threatens them with competition. I agree to the importance to have a good and independent paper to hold the powers that be to account.
However, every time I pick up ELA, it is always full of depressing and sad news. Even when something good happens, ELA either don’t cover it, give it only a couple of lines somewhere hidden or try and find a different angle to twist it.
What EEL does do is help raise peoples spirits and gives an positive angle of this lovely borough that we live in. It provides news about some of the wonderful activities and achievements of our young people, rather than the negative (stabbing, muggings, ect) things that a minority of young people get up to. I understand that sells papers, but it provides such a negative and depressing impression of the area and shows very little positive angle.
What ELA does do is help show the positives of our community and our borough and helps inspire people both young and old.
I hope Lutfur & co don’t get rid of ELA, as the paper provides a valuable source of information about jobs, training, activities, services and a good feel factor about the area. It also keeps us informed about a range of other things as well and helps inspire people.
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