Editor-in-chief of Social Spider CIC explains why Barnet Post is now an online-only publication
By James Cracknell

Barnet Post is an independent community news publication solely focused on covering Barnet, the largest borough in London by population.

The Post was the fifth local newspaper to be launched by Social Spider Community Interest Company (CIC), a not-for-profit social enterprise which first became a local news publisher in 2014 with the launch of Waltham Forest Echo. Building on the success of the Echo, Tottenham Community Press (now Haringey Community Press) was launched in 2016, Enfield Dispatch in 2018 and EC1 Echo in 2019, with the Post following in 2021.

The aim with all of our newspapers is to provide people living in the community with an invaluable source of local news and information, written collaboratively with the help of local people. Each publication contains a wide variety of articles covering arts and culture, sport, health, charities and events, as well as important news focused particularly on holding local power to account.

We don’t publish our newspapers to make money, but we do need to make sure that each newspaper is financially sustainable. The Post was launched initially as an online-only publication in February 2021, later launching as a monthly print newspaper in July 2021. Unfortunately, because of increased operational costs and overall market conditions, as of this month the Post has reverted back to being an online-only publication. The last print issue was published in February 2022.

We would like to reassure you that Social Spider CIC remains committed to returning the Post to print in future, once the financial situation is more certain. David Floyd, chief executive of Social Spider CIC, says: “We believe that Barnet deserves a print newspaper and we have been doing everything we can to make sure that it has one.

“Returning to being an online-only publication at barnetpost.co.uk means that we can continue to publish the news and commentary that Barnet residents want. We will be constantly reviewing advertising and market conditions with the intention of returning Barnet Post to print in the near future.”

Post editor Bella Saltiel left her role at the end of February. David said: “Bella has done an amazing job as editor, overseeing the launch of Barnet Post in print and online. I’d like to thank her for all her great ideas, commitment and hard work, and wish her all the best in her future career.”

The Post website will continue to be on offer to advertisers and resources are being committed in 2022 to bring the Post’s online news stories to a broader number of Barnet’s residents.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

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