Before we start running full-tilt, headlong into the new year, we take a look back on 2025 and what 2026 has in store for us.
The past 12 months have been a period of focus for the Public Interest News Foundation. Following the publication of our Local News Commission report, which set out what a healthy local media ecosystem should look like, we unveiled our ambitious new mission: to regenerate local news in the UK by 2035.
Our new strategy distilled our efforts into three clear strands: a Local News Fund, Local News Campaign and Local News Futures. With renewed ambition, 2025 became one of our busiest and most impactful years yet!
What we achieved together
We kicked off 2025 with new research revealing that Google generates £2.2 billion in revenue from news in the UK - critical evidence in the case for balancing the relationship between platforms and publishers. And we ended the year with our updated Local News Map and Local News Report, showing that 4.4 million people are living in news deserts.
30 independent news outlets from across the country came together for the second annual Indie News Week, showcasing the creativity, connection and social value that indie news brings to the local communities they are embedded in — through guided walks, quiz nights, podcasts, discussion evenings and political debates.
One of the top highlights for the PINF team was mentoring and coaching nine journalists through our Tenacious Journalist Awards in partnership with Changing Ideas. These journalists investigated important public-interest stories, from school exclusions to synthetic opioids, demonstrating the importance of support for in-depth reporting.
In lovely Leicester, we hosted the Local News Forum 2025, bringing together 65 of the best and brightest from the local news world and beyond to connect, share ideas, and enjoy many, many little sandwiches. Our fourth forum was our biggest yet, broadening our invite list to think tanks, campaign groups, civic tech orgs, academics and funders to investigate important issues such as financial sustainability, the BBC and AI.
Alongside all of this, we carried on banging the drum for local news at events like the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, launched the Local News Fund for Newry, and published the Co-Creational News Media Toolkit. Plus: we made the leap to our new online home of Ghost, along with swathes of independent publishers joining the non-profit platform.
What’s coming up in 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, our Local News Campaign is gearing to support independent news providers through several upcoming developments.
Collective bargaining between indie media and big tech is heating up (find out more about joining an association here) with the Competition and Markets Authority set to publish conduct requirements for the negotiations soon.
Public notices continue to be debated in Parliament and the BBC charter renewal process is underway with the publication of the Government’s green paper. Alongside ongoing discussions around AI, media ownership and regulation, the coming year will have significant implications for publishers. We’re actively seeking partners working in these areas, because we know we’re stronger together.
We’ll continue to make the case for a UK Local News Fund to unlock the potential of community-first newsrooms across the UK. Last month, we announced a new grant from Press Forward, and we’re excited to build on this momentum throughout the year.
The third annual Indie News Week will be taking place in June (look out for an announcement on that shortly!) and we’re exploring a new city to host the 2026 Local News Forum.
Last but certainly not least, our Deputy Director Joe currently has the great pleasure of reviewing the fantastic applications we’ve received for the second round of the Tenacious Journalist Awards.
The challenges facing local news are real, but so is the momentum for change. Across the UK, independent publishers, journalists, funders and communities are showing that local news can be collaborative, resilient and rooted in the public interest. At PINF, we’re proud to be part of that movement and excited to keep building alongside you in 2026.
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