Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged government support for trusted local journalism, announcing up to £12 million in new funding as part of the Local Media Action Plan. Writing in support of the Journalism Matters campaign, he described local reporting as part of the national infrastructure of a healthy country and democracy.
Power to Communities
Burnham said too much power has flowed towards Westminster and away from the places where people live, and argued that greater local power must come with local accountability. He said local reporters sit in council chambers, courts and planning meetings, asking the questions that need to be asked, shining a light on decisions made in people's name and giving communities a voice.
He also highlighted the role of journalism in bringing people together and separating fact from fiction at vulnerable moments, citing examples after Southport and, more recently, in Belfast, where trusted reporters challenged lies and misinformation spread online.
News Deserts and Inequality
The Prime Minister noted that access to good local journalism is becoming increasingly unequal. While 95 per cent of adults access local news, the market alone will not sustain it everywhere. Up to 37 local authority districts now have no dedicated outlet of their own, leaving as many as 4.4 million people in local “news deserts”, disproportionately in some of the most deprived urban communities.
Burnham said the principle that where you live should not determine the opportunities you get applies equally to information, and that people in every part of the country deserve trusted local news and scrutiny of those in power.
Local News Fund Details
Through the Local Media Action Plan, the new Local News Fund will provide up to £12 million over two years. This year, local newspapers, websites and independent television and radio stations in England and Wales have been able to bid for up to £125,000 to invest in their future, whether through new technology, multimedia journalism, reaching younger audiences or finding new ways to bring in revenue.
The government has also made up to £275,000 available for projects that strengthen the wider industry. In the second year, £1 million will help communities bring local journalism back where it has disappeared, whether by reviving a dormant title, expanding a neighbouring publication or establishing a community-owned outlet.
Burnham concluded that devolution cannot simply mean moving power from one set of politicians to another, and that people need journalists willing to ask difficult questions, expose wrongdoing, challenge misinformation and champion their communities.
