Government must support regeneration of local news ecosystems
- Beckie Shuker
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
On 25 March, PINF launched the new report of the Local News Commission in Parliament with MPs, Peers, partners and allies in attendance. We hope to kickstart action to stimulate a new era in local news.
President Donald Trump says London is unrecognisable, having opened its doors “to jihad.” Elon Musk thinks he knows what to do about justice in Oldham. We know that’s not the real story - and so do local communities across the UK, who have organised and raised awareness for decades to defend the truth.
But in an era of misinformation - the kind that crafts deepfakes, manipulates networks, and starts riots - things are changing. The truthtellers are fast disappearing. UK news shouldn’t be an oligarch’s plaything.
With a vibrant local news ecosystem, it doesn’t need to be. Publishers can create jobs again. Outlets can build sustainable, innovative business models. And local journalists can do what they do best - hold the powerful to account.
PINF is extremely proud to launch the Local News Commission’s new report,
Regenerating Local News in the UK, which sets out clear recommendations for saving local news.
The Local News Commission believes a Local News Stimulation Fund - £15m a year for the next 10 years - can be implemented to transform the future of innovative local journalism and, with it, the fates of communities who desperately need resilience against false narratives and collapsing news business models.
Hundreds of news organisations have closed, and nearly five million Brits live in news deserts. Big Tech is not standing up for them - and our government must act now to save local news.
Underwritten by the government, this fund would catalyse a shift in the national conversation around local news, accompanying:
Legal, regulatory and fiscal incentives for philanthropists, big tech firms and members of the public to support local news.
A new settlement with big tech, using the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act to ensure that local news providers get a fair deal.
A workforce development strategy to recruit local journalists from all backgrounds and give them the skills to realise the Commission’s vision.
A new relationship between local government and local news, building on the public notice system to inform and empower local communities.
A new relationship between the BBC and local news providers, building on the Local Democracy Reporting Service to support local news across the UK.
Along with Commissioners, we launched the report at a lively Parliamentary event on Tuesday 25th March.
Local News Commissioner Sophia Smith Galer oversaw proceedings, keeping our panel of enthusiastic Commissioners and special guests going, despite MPs’ being summoned to vote twice during the meeting – you know what they say about best laid plans!
Dame Frances Cairncross described how the Government’s ‘warm words’ in response to her own Review – published six years ago now – didn’t lead to action. "[S]ome costs of producing news have diminished. But others haven't: the real human being needed to do the actual reporting."
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the DCMS Select Committee, said that she ‘loved’ our report, which will form the ‘cornerstone’ of her committee’s work as they put ‘continual pressure’ on the Secretary of State to deliver a meaningful local media strategy over the coming years. "It's wonderful to hear the enthusiasm here. We saw in lockdown how trust in local reporting was vital. All MPs recognise the benefits of local news for reaching our constituents. We really welcome the upcoming local media strategy, but need to see action."
Sir Phil Redmond, one of our Local News Commissioners, explained that he "grew up with three great local media organisations. Localism matters. There's a real hunger for information and local news. And... I've learned that there's a hunger to deliver it!"
We were also joined by a dozen news publishers, who gave up their time to come down to London and invite their MPs to join us at the event, including Victoria Hewitt who spoke on behalf of the Barnsley Chronicle, Mel Page and Amanda Fourie from Post Community News, John Baron from the West Leeds Dispatch, Sarah Cheverton from the Star and Crescent, Darryl Chamberlain from the Greenwich Wire, Gavin Morgan from the Guildford Dragon and Ben Dickenson from the Bylines Network.
We heard from Joshi Hermann of Mill Media, who said that “we now need to take that step from enthusiasm to sustainability. A stimulation fund could do that, taking an organisation from 1-2 people to 3-4 people and towards resilience. We could have a genuine recovery in local news."
Last but by no means least, Priyanka Raval spoke on behalf The Bristol Cable: "we now have 2,500 members who provide 60% of revenue, topped up by philanthropy from America. We have a quarterly print edition, a website, podcasts and newsletters. Nothing is paywalled. We're a community benefit society — we tell our readers: "you buy in so we can't sell out"”.
The report launch marks the first step to turning these ambitious goals into tangible action. In the coming months, we’ll be working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to shape their Local Media Strategy, influencing decision-makers and creating a coalition to drive this work forward – as well as holding our second annual Indie News Week in June!
Follow the latest developments via PINF’s newsletter #SaveLocalNews #NoNewsIsBadNews