South West Independent Publishing Alliance launches, forming the first independent publishing alliance in Cornwall and Devon

After 18 months of uncertainty within our communities, the pandemic has shown the importance of coming together and showing support for the local independent businesses that take centre stage within our small towns. 

In response to the need of preserving good quality community news and media, a handful of independent publishers based in Devon and Cornwall have come together to form the South West Independent Publishing Alliance. 

Comprising the popular publishers and community news outlets Launceston Life, Bude Life, the Links Magazines, English Riviera magazine and By the Dart Dartmouth magazine, the Alliance will work to ensure that quality, reliable publications will continue to serve their communities, promoting a range of fantastic independent businesses, reporting on local news and supporting businesses, organisations and groups within their communities. 

The Alliance’s aim is simple - to celebrate and champion local. The teams from each publishing company within the Alliance live, work or run their businesses from the towns they represent, and are often involved with and volunteer in their communities. 

The South West Independent Publishing Alliance is set to be an excellent partnership between the five publishers, with each having a strong community-minded ethos and producing quality publications with the help of talented sales people, content writers, administrators and social media managers. 

As a collective, all publishers within the Alliance are based across large areas of Cornwall and Devon, from the rugged north Cornwall coastline at Bude, through to moorland market towns in Devon and on to the English Riviera at Torbay. With over 60,000 copies of magazines within the publishers’ circulation, it is an exciting time for local publishing and media.

Launceston Life is a small team, headed by local girl Ellie Mason in the small market town of Launceston, where its Norman castle is iconic and history rich. Launceston Life delivers to just under 11,000 residential and business addresses in Launceston and beyond through Royal Mail.

Director Ellie said: “As an independent community publisher we understand the true meaning of positive collaboration. We also know how hard our local businesses work for their profits, and how when reinvested into marketing it is essential that it’s with truly effective and authentic community marketing avenues, like our publications. That is why we are so delighted to be part of this progressive publishing alliance, to champion those doing what Launceston Life does for our town and parishes in other areas.”

Bude Life is based in the pretty Cornish coastal town of Bude, where beach events and activities rule and where stunning views across the Atlantic can be enjoyed for miles. Bude Life distributes to 9,000 homes and outlets in and around Bude, from Morwenstow in the north to Jacobstow in the south. 

Jon Michael, who runs the company, said: “Our team at Bude Life are delighted to form part of this new publishing alliance as we work in partnership with our friends across the South West, collectively producing great local news in the communities where we live.” 

The ‘Links’ magazines consist of Tavy Links, Moor Links, Oke Links and Plym Links, based just over the border from Cornwall in West Devon, where it takes in the stunning views across Dartmoor and sends out 32,000 copies to addresses across the Tavistock, Okehampton and Plymouth areas.

Tim Randell from Links Magazines said: “This is a great opportunity for local businesses to use neighbouring magazines and be guaranteed that the quality of publishing is of the highest level.”

English Riviera magazine covers Torbay which, true to its name, is set amongst the beautiful ‘English Riviera’ and has been in business since 2013, priding itself on content ‘written by local people for local people’. 

Finally, By the Dart is based in Dartmouth in south Devon, which delivers to residents in Dartmouth and Kingswear and provides a comprehensive source of information about the area to its readers. 

Mark from By the Dart said: The teams are excited to have come together through the formation of this Alliance, which is the first established independent publishing alliance spanning the Cornwall-Devon border. 

The Alliance recognises the importance of visibility in the area and the strength of independent publishers living and working in their towns, knowing their communities and what they need.

For more information about the Alliance or one of the publishing companies, please make contact with one of the following representatives:

Launceston Life - Ellie Mason ellie@launcestonlife.com www.launcestonlife.com

Bude Life - Jon Michael jon@budelife.co.uk www.budelife.co.uk

Tavy Links/Moors Links/Oke Links/ Plym Links - tim.randell@linksmagazines.co.uk https://dartmoorlinks.co.uk/

Dartmouth Magazine - bythedartltd@btconnect.com https://www.bythedart.co.uk/

English Riviera - julianrees47@gmail.com https://englishrivieramagazine.co.uk/