Sir, – In “Surging costs of paper cuts deep for news industry” (Business, August 16th), Laura Slattery points out that when input costs soar, there is little scope for newspaper and magazine publishers to escape the pain.
Given the current economic circumstances, increases in advertising and subscription rates are rarely a viable option.
Independent book publishers have faced a similar predicament, with as many as four notable price hikes in wood pulp last year.
Such “historic highs” for newsprint prices reinforce the issue repeatedly highlighted by Irish news publishers in its pre-budget calls for the Government to allow print and digital newspapers and magazines be zero-rated for VAT. – Yours, etc,
Róis: ‘Moving away from Ireland shook me. Going away is essential’
Joe Canning on taking frees: ‘If I miss this, I’m f**ked. I’ll never live this down’
The Dirty Souls Letterkenny takeaway review: Low-and-slow tastes of the deep south in the northwest
Potential new names for the Department of Arts: Smacc, Cacs, Scam and – my favourite – DoSac
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Editor,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
