 Joint Parish Magazine The Joint Parish Magazine reaches some 420 homes each month, in the Parishes of Winsham, Thorncombe & Cricket St. Thomas. About 200 are distributed in Winsham, about 60% of all Households. It contains both Church & general news from the Parishes, and carries advertising by local businesses. The Annual Subscription is £4.20 for twelve monthly issues, including delivery. The production of the magazine is an example of how the church and the secular interests, in the community can work together to their mutual benefit and to the advantage of all the communities involved. It is also an example of how adjacent villages can co-operate. The editorial content of the publication is balanced as far as is possible to give roughly equal coverage between the co-operating parishes. The ambience of the publication is Christian, and the church related items undoubtedly do set the editorial tone although they are generally less in number than the general village news items. The style of the publication is one of positive reporting, and avoids, as far as possible, negative and controversial items. A good deal of the editorial is concerned with forthcoming events and reports of events just passed. It also carries regular reports on, for example Parish Council Meetings, W.I activity, the schools etc; it also runs regular items of Horticultural, interest, Farming and local flora and fauna. It also carries an integrated Parish Diary, listing chronologically events in Winsham, Thorncombe and Cricket St.Thomas. The editorial content of the magazine usually runs to some ten pages each month, with paid advertising making up a further nine, pages. Advertising is an important part of the magazine. It makes a significant contribution towards the production costs of about 55p. per copy. Apart from this it does put many local suppliers of goods and services in touch potentially valuable customers living in the communities. There are more people wishing to advertise than there are spaces available. For many readers, especially those moving to the area, the advertising is an invaluable source of information about local services and supplies Distribution of the Joint Parish Magazine is managed and organized through the respective Parochial Church Councils representing the three parishes. They organize the teams, which at the beginning of each year undertake the collection of the annual subscriptions to the magazine, and then carry out the monthly delivery of the publication. |
