Adverts seeking tenders for government construction schemes will no longer appear in the local newspapers.

The Treasury has announced that in future it will advertise to Manx contractors via the Employers' Federation.

The federation will circulate details of tender opportunities to a list of accredited local firms, but newspaper ads may still be used when off-Island firms are being sought.

The news is a blow to Isle of Man Newspapers, which gains a significant slice of its revenue from taxpayer-funded advertisements.

Capital projects coordinator for the Manx government Paul Slinger says advertisements have been placed in the papers for many years, but it's time to change direction: