Looking forward to speaking at today's @UWEJournalism event on the sustainability of #LocalNews - specifically, public interest news (as opposed to commercial/tabloid).
The movement to 'save local news' has gained momentum recently - here's how 🧵👇[1/11]
The movement to 'save local news' has gained momentum recently - here's how 🧵👇[1/11]
#LocalNews has been shelled out & corporate mergers abound in the internet era. Many have been left with inadequate news, if any
As shown by this @TheBristolCable thread (PS I wrote it) independents sprung up to fill gaps - but are surviving, not thriving
As shown by this @TheBristolCable thread (PS I wrote it) independents sprung up to fill gaps - but are surviving, not thriving
https://twitter.com/TheBristolCable/status/1632719039192498176
[3/11] How might they thrive? A number of us are working behind the scenes to find ways.
The Charitable Journalism Project (@CharitableJP) is trying to convince the government to make it easier for eligible local/community newsrooms to become charities...
The Charitable Journalism Project (@CharitableJP) is trying to convince the government to make it easier for eligible local/community newsrooms to become charities...
[4/11] ...and the Public Interest News Foundation (@PINewsF) alongside @sdp are working on a '#LocalNews Plan' pilot project to see how local communities/businesses/groups can come together to sustain their public interest newsrooms in different places/contexts across the UK.
[5/11] This work has been happening alongside a number of gov inquiries.
2019's Cairncross Review looked into the sustainability of journalism generally, finding "Investigative journalism and democracy reporting are the areas of journalism most worthy and most under threat"...
2019's Cairncross Review looked into the sustainability of journalism generally, finding "Investigative journalism and democracy reporting are the areas of journalism most worthy and most under threat"...
[6/11] ..."The cost of investigative journalism is great
and rarely seems to pay for itself." #LocalNews
and rarely seems to pay for itself." #LocalNews
[7/11] Cairncross was followed by a 2020 House of Lords inquiry into the Future of UK Journalism and last month a DCMS inquiry into the sustainability of #LocalNews specifically.
Numerous recommendations were made across all 3, none of which have been implemented by government.
Numerous recommendations were made across all 3, none of which have been implemented by government.
[8/11] You can read the recommendations of the Cairncross Review here: gov.uk/government/pub…
[9/11] The recommendations of the House of Lords report here: committees.parliament.uk/publications/3…
[10/11] And the recommendations of the #LocalNews sustainability report here: committees.parliament.uk/publications/3…
[11/11] The groundwork is there. The research is there & ready to be implemented by a dedicated group of public interest news campaigners & journalists.
There is currently no political will.
MPs that understand free speech, citizenship & democracy should support this movement.
There is currently no political will.
MPs that understand free speech, citizenship & democracy should support this movement.
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