Speaking at the Society of Editors Future of News Conference, today [March 17th], Lisa Nandy, the UK Culture Secretary, will back the essential role of local media in communities all over the UK. The Local Media Strategy is part of the steps the government is taking to improve social cohesion and protect what matters.

The Strategy also includes new funding to help local news publishers innovate digitally, support community radio stations and tackle the risks of ‘news deserts’ by helping to revive a local news presence in communities that currently don’t have one.

Speaking at the conference, the Culture Secretary will say: “This strategy will provide unprecedented funding for local media outlets to invest in innovation and infrastructure, almost tripling the size of funding for community radio, harnessing the power of local and national government and giving more young people access to high quality journalism and the opportunity to pursue careers in it. Because local media was and always has been a ladder of opportunity to help new voices break into journalism. This is not a nice to have. It is essential to a cohesive country. Our debate is too narrow and too small. We will change that. The strategy we publish today is the start – not the end point – and we recognise there is more to do. But it is the start of a new approach to local media, which nurtures it and places it directly at the heart of our government’s support for our country. Because the future of news is local.”

A new Regional Media Forum in the West of England will explore ways to improve the relationship between journalists and local public services. The forum, alongside a wider review of the publication of statutory notices in local newspapers, will aim to stimulate generation of public interest news and scrutiny of local decision-making.

Other measures in the Strategy include a campaign in schools in North West England to inspire young people from all backgrounds to pursue local media careers, and a commitment to guarantee digital access to a wide range of local and national news in all state schools in England.

The Strategy commits central government to ensuring it makes best use of local and hyperlocal media in its advertising and public information campaigns, while helping them to become more competitive and championing their use in commercial advertising.

Chief Executive of the Society of Editors, Dawn Alford, said: “The Society of Editors welcomes the government’s recognition of the importance of local media and the steps set out in this strategy to support innovation and encourage the next generation of journalists. Publishers and editors have been adapting to a rapidly changing media landscape for years, successfully reaching significantly larger audiences through digital platforms while continuing to inform the public, reflect local voices and hold decision-makers to account. In fact, some publishers are now reaching 80 per cent of the local population their titles serve – more than ever before. A strong local media sector is essential to democratic society, and we look forward to working with government and industry partners to ensure it continues to thrive and serve communities across the UK.”

News Media Association Chief Executive, Owen Meredith, added: “The government’s focus on the sustainability of local journalism and its importance to communities through the package of measures announced in the Local Media Strategy today are very welcome. As reader habits change and the way we all access local news evolves with technology, ensuring publishers are properly rewarded for their investment in local journalism is vital, rather than the lion’s share of the value being siphoned off by Big Tech. We are particularly pleased to see a clear commitment to make better use of trusted local news environments – which reach 77 per cent of UK adults – for central government advertising, as well as a new £12 million (€13.9m) fund to boost local news provision. We are also delighted to be supporting a new campaign aimed at inspiring young people to take up a career in local news media. The Strategy also rightly identifies a need to improve transparency in local public bodies – maintaining a strong link between public notices and local news media will be critical to the success of that important work.”

Local media outlets in print, online, radio or TV will be able to bid for grants to support their financial sustainability and transition to online-focussed business models under a new multi-year Local News Fund worth up to £12 million over the next two years.

Digital tools, resources and infrastructure can help the industry in its move towards a sustainable future, stemming the closure of titles and journalist redundancies. For example, new tools and software – such as adtech, apps or better website architecture – could help local media tap into new or younger audiences and revenue streams, or simplify and centralise journalists’ access to public records.

Evidence shows that up to 37 local authority districts now have no print, online, TV or radio outlet dedicated specifically to that area – leaving as many as 4.4 million citizens in local ‘news deserts’, which disproportionately occur in the most deprived urban areas.

A portion of the Local News Fund will be used to revive local news in these areas where a presence has retreated. This could see existing local news publishers or neighbouring news titles expand into the area or revive a dormant title, or the establishment of new, independent, community-owned titles.

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Categories: Business, Funding, Headline, Policy, Regulation

Tags: DCMS, Lisa Nandy, local news