The UK government has launched a £12 million Local News Fund over two years to support local journalism and address the growing inequality in access to trusted local news.
In a statement marking the Journalism Matters campaign, the government said it is putting power and resources back into the hands of communities, with local accountability coming through strong local journalism.
Why local journalism matters
Local reporters sit in council chambers, courts and planning meetings, asking questions that need to be asked. They shine a light on decisions made in people's name and give communities a voice. The government noted that at moments when communities are most vulnerable, good local journalism can bring people together and separate fact from fiction, citing examples after Southport and in Belfast where trusted reporters challenged lies and misinformation spread online.
The statement referenced the Manchester Evening News campaign for free bus travel for homeless children living in temporary accommodation, which brought people together to support the change needed.
Addressing news deserts
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.
The government said it is acting through its Local Media Action Plan, with the new Local News Fund providing up to £12 million over two years as part of a wider package of measures to support local journalism.
Support for local outlets
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 that's new technology, multimedia journalism, reaching younger audiences or finding new ways to bring in revenue.
Up to £275,000 has also been made 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.
The government said devolution cannot simply mean moving power from one set of politicians to another; it has to mean giving people more of a say. For that to work, people need to know what is being done in their name, and they need journalists willing to ask difficult questions, expose wrongdoing, challenge misinformation and champion their communities.
