About PINF's research
Through a range of research projects, including the PINF Index, our Local News Map and our Impact Research programme, we will address fundamental questions about independent public interest news: What is the public value of indie news? Who benefits from this and who misses out? What drives sustainability in this sector?
These activities are informed by our capacity-building programmes and enhance our advocacy for the sector.
The Projects
PINF Index
We have established the PINF Index of Independent News Publishing as the most robust source of data about the indie news sector in the UK. Through a detailed survey, the Index shows how indie news providers serve their communities, and the challenges they face. We will continue to develop the Index into an invaluable resource for policymakers, platforms and philanthropists, and for indie news providers themselves.
Local News Map
We launched a pilot version of the Local News Map in 2023 to understand the state of local news in the UK, and have since launched an updated report.
The Map shows how well every area in the UK is covered by local news and reveals how local news relates to factors such as economic deprivation, democratic engagement and community cohesion. Over the next three years, we will develop the Map to explore these relationships and track changes in the local news ecosystem.
Impact Research
We will take every opportunity to understand the impact of indie news providers on the social, democratic and economic wellbeing communities, and how to maximise this. This will help news providers to articulate and test their theories of change and demonstrate their impact to the public, philanthropists and other stakeholders. It will also help us to enhance and measure PINF’s own impact on society, via the news providers we support.