British minister reaches out to newspapers

LONDON, March 30 (UPI) -- British Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has called for a one-day conference to examine how traditional newspapers can survive the modern, computer age.

The conference, scheduled for April, will include media and government representatives in an effort to find ways to prop up a struggling industry, The Times of London reported Monday.

"Local newspapers have long been part of the fabric of life in our towns and rural areas. But as most MPs (members of parliament) can see with their own eyes, they are facing very dire times." Burnham told The Times,

Burnham said laws restricting newspaper mergers should be repealed and the government should send more advertising to newspapers. In addition, the government should do more to help newspapers "move into the digital age," he said.

He suggested the British Broadcasting System should form "public-private partnerships."

"The BBC could provide sound and images to the Web site of the local newspaper," he said. In return, "newspapers can provide information for BBC Web sites."

"All of them could work together providing a service under the trusted banner of the local paper," he said.