The Final Chapter: The Teesside & Durham Post Announces Closure
Proud of What We Built, Sad to Say Goodbye: The Teesside & Durham Post to Cease Publication....
1st November 2026
One of Teessides Larges Independent Publishers has announced its intentions to cease publication after rising running costs & concerns over platforms pushing mainstream publishers seals the fate of yet another publishing outlet.
The Teesside & Durham Post, famous for its publication of local government scandals & corruption will close its website and Facebook page on the 14th of November 2026, bringing around five years of independent local publishing to an end.
The decision follows lengthy discussions between its contributors and the publication’s editor Andrew Barker, with rising costs, contributor burnout and difficulties reaching readers making the operation increasingly difficult to sustain.
In a statement to its readers, Andrew Barker, the publications editor described the closure as a difficult decision, reflecting on both the financial and personal pressures of keeping a small independent news outlet running.
“This has not been an easy decision,” the statement said. “Ime proud of the work the contributors have done to keep the Teesside & Durham Post running, but also need to recognise that the publication has reached its terminal velocity in terms of outreach.”
A central concern has been the demands placed on our contributors, who balance researching, writing and publishing with day jobs, families and other commitments.
The statement explained that many of these pressures have left the publications contributors increasingly burned out, with the workload simply becoming too much to maintain.
The publication also cited difficulties securing visibility on both Facebook and Google News, despite bringing in a social media specialist to boost the publications outreach, with the publication saying that platforms such as Google are favouring much larger mainstream publishers, making it harder for independent outlets to reach their audiences, especially when some of the articles published by the outlet ends up on mainstream websites without permission of the Teesside & Durham Post.
Alongside those concerns, the team pointed to broader worries about freedom of expression in the UK, threats made online by officials working in local councils & the police and frustration over its articles appearing on other websites.
The cost of maintaining the website has reportedly also added further pressure, were its claimed alternatives had been considered, including introducing a paywall, or even moving its content entirely to a free platform such as Substack.
However, the team feared charging for access would in turn reduce readership further and limit the reach of its reporting. The contributors also raised concerns about the effectiveness of paywalls where readers can easily use browser extension tools to bypass them.
The publication’s recently appointed London-based editor Andrew Barker has also reported difficulties maintaining the operation from his location, with the TDP's contributors primarily living in the Teesside area. Taken together, these challenges mean the team no longer believes it can give the publication the time and attention it needs.
The closure will affect both the website and Facebook page, with 14th November 2026 marking the end of the publication’s run.
The publication has been primarily the first in the region to break significant news stories, one of those being the controversial Hartlepool Homesearch Scandal, which uncovered systemic corruption in Hartlepool Borough Councils housing Choice Based Lettings Scheme.
In 2023, one of its most significant contributors was arrested by Cleveland Police after the publication attempted to expose two corrupt council officials working for Hartlepool Borough Council, highlighting the dangerous nature of the work the team endured whilst attempting to root out corruption in one of Teessides most corrupt public institutions.
For those involved, the announcement brings an end to around five years of work supported by readers, contributors and people sharing its reporting.
The team concluded its statement with a message of gratitude to everyone who helped keep the publication going:
“A huge thank you to everyone who has read, shared, contributed to and supported The Teesside & Durham Post.
“Your support has made our work possible.”
