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Ask your MP to support independent local news!

In February 2023, we advised Daisy Cooper MP on Early Day Motion (#901) in Parliament to provide MPs with the opportunity to pledge support for independent publishers.

 

Members of five political parties have so far signed on, indicating cross-party buy-in for this cause.

 

This is a great start! But we need more MPs to commit to supporting the provision of public interest news by helping keep independent news publishers all around the UK sustainable. 

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That's where you can get involved. 

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Send a sample letter to your MP: 

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  1. Visit WriteToThem and use your postcode to find your MP

  2. Copy the text of the letter below, filling in the relevant information about yourself. Our text is only a suggestion and we encourage you to personalise the message further.

  3. Let us know when you’ve sent your own letter and if you get a response! Please share with hani@publicinterestnews.org.uk

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You can also find your MPs email address by finding their members.parliament.uk contact page and sending a direct email instead.

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The letter: 

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[FULL ADDRESS]

[POSTCODE]

[DATE]

 

Dear [MP NAME],

 

My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a constituent of [YOUR CONSTITUENCY]. I am writing to you today because I am concerned that the local news providers that serve my community and help keep us all informed and engaged are struggling to keep their lights on, and I think you can help.

 

This is something that’s particularly important to me as someone who wants to know about the events that shape my experience in the community and the decisions my politicians make that impact many aspects of my life. I need independent local news to properly provide this coverage and help me make sense of this country and my place in it.

 

I believe that the way to achieve this and continue to live in a functioning, democratic society is through maintaining diverse and accurate local news provision, and fear that my rights as a resident would be easier to infringe upon if I didn’t have access to the information I need to demand them.

 

I am asking you to take the following steps to address this issue:

  • Add your name to Early Day Motion #901, pledging support for independent news providers when Government introduces the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill in Parliament.

  • Work with other policymakers through debate and amendments to ensure that tech platforms are obliged to negotiate with independent publishers for a fair share of the revenue and data their content generates. 

  • Consult with small news publishers in our constituency and the organisations that support them across the UK, such as the Public Interest News Foundation, in order to learn how they can best be supported through legislation.

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Please outline the ways you intend to address this issue on my and my community’s behalf. If you’re unable to address this personally, please escalate my letter to the relevant Minister or department.

 

Please do keep me informed of any progress made.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours faithfully,

[YOUR NAME]

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