LIKE much of the country the Morning Star will be reducing staff presence in its office to a minimum until further notice because of the coronavirus pandemic.

We have been working on the technicalities of producing the paper and running the business remotely and began implementation of that over the course of the week.

We would urge all our readers and supporters to heed official advice on social distancing and self-isolation. At the same time we hope readers and supporters stay in touch with each other – and us! – to keep everyone’s spirits up and provide whatever support and comradeship is possible.

We are entering challenging times for the daily paper of the left. Labour movement conferences, rallies and marches and local public events are being cancelled or postponed, including many readers and supporters’ events. Such events are the lifeblood of the Morning Star: much of our coverage focuses around their priorities and programmes, they bring in the overwhelming bulk of our advertising and they are significant in terms of paper sales by supporters and through trade union purchases as well.

Many trade union offices are also closing as everyone who can do so is urged to work remotely. Where offices close, any paper deliveries they take disappear too. Office closures alone will cost the Morning Star thousands of pounds’ income every single month.

And then there is the impact of Covid-19 on yourselves – the readers who have to stay at home for their safety and wellbeing and who cannot get to the shop to buy your daily paper.

Yet the issues raised by the pandemic strike at the heart of the unjust and unsustainable capitalist system, while the necessary response – to build a society based around the needs of all rather than maximising profits for a few – requires the socialist movement to grow in strength, not retreat. The Morning Star is more needed than ever at a time when its income is inevitably about to drop sharply.

If you’re likely to have any trouble getting your daily paper, we do encourage everyone who can to subscribe to our e-edition and pdf at morningstaronline.co.uk/subscribe.

If you had been due to attend any cancelled political events at which you might have sold or fundraised for the Star, do think about whether any money saved could be donated to our Fighting Fund. It will be sorely needed in the months ahead.

Management will be putting their heads together – at a very safe distance from one another – next week to assess the probable financial impact over March and April and at fundraising ideas that will help us to meet the challenge. We’ll keep you posted.

But we’re aware that right across Britain and the world people are losing livelihoods and fighting to stay afloat in the midst of this outbreak – we aren’t the only small business struggling right now, and that’s without mentioning those who are falling ill and the heroes of our public services who are caring for them.

Best wishes to all and solidarity from everyone at the Morning Star in these difficult times.

Ben Chacko
Editor

Circulation information on the printed paper during the Coronavirus lockdown

We are receiving daily briefings from our trading partners in the print and wholesale sectors updating us on how the current situation is affecting them. We have been sending messages of support to their workers who are managing to keep the newspaper industry going whilst balancing their safety and wellbeing. 

Many of our readers will either now be working from home or self-isolating and I am hearing daily that they are unable to get out to collect their paper from their local shop and they are unaware of any home news delivery available.  If you know of comrades, friends, relatives who are in this position and you are in a position to help them without risk to yourself we would ask you to do so. 

Newspapers are an integral part of so many people’s lives and a lifeline to the outside world. We do have  information on home news delivery agents who work independently or through the retail trade. We are making contact with them to see how they can assist so please, if you need help with this contact circulation@peoples-press.com

A number of readers have been asking if we can do a postal subscription unfortunately we have had to suspend the weekly postal subscription service as the offices are closed.

Bernadette Keaveney
Circulation Manager

Contact details
While the office is closed we will regularly be picking up post but we will not be able to take phone calls to the office regularly, so getting in touch or donating will be much faster online. 

The best way to donate is by BACS transfer to Sort Code 08 90 33, Account 50505115, Account name PPFF (24-hour service)

Otherwise you can donate at morningstaronline.co.uk/pages/support-us or by phone on 07780 220 391. Cheques made payable to PPFF can be sent to Fighting Fund, 52 Beachy Rd, London E3 2NS.

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