Revitalizing Local news: A โSix-Step Plan for the 21st Century
The healthโ of localโข news is in critical condition, and a concerted effortโฃ from investors, policymakers,โฃ and news providers is urgently needed to โฃsecure its future. According to the Public Interest News Foundation, a six-pronged approach is essential to regenerate local news โfor the โฃdemands ofโข the modern era.
First โคandโข foremost, local news must be demonstrably local.โฃ Trust in โคjournalism is โdirectly correlated with reporter visibility โฃwithin the community. when journalists areโฃ actively โpresent and accountable, particularly when holding localโข officials to account, public confidence increases.This necessitates โnot โonly robust and โขindependent mediaโค regulation, but also the fostering of strong audience relationships andโฃ the exploration of co-creational models -โข actively involving community members โขin the journalistic process.
A lastingโ business model is the second crucial element. Reliance on a single revenue stream is precarious; a diversified approach incorporating subscriptions, donations, and commercial โขpartnerships โฃis vital for long-termโ viability.
Thirdly, local news must prioritize the public interest. reporting should โขfocus โon informingโ and empowering local citizens,steering โclear of sensationalism and national-level distractions.โค The core mission should be delivering relevant,โข impactful data to the community โขit serves.
Innovation is the fourth key. While print newspapers remain valuable, โlocal news providers must adaptโ to evolving audienceโ preferences. Utilizing platforms โlike short-form video, podcasts, and email newsletters is โฃessential โto reach a wider readership. This โฃalso requires a โคre-evaluation of the relationship between big techโฃ platforms and local news organizations. Policymakers need to establish a framework where platforms bear a legal responsibility to prominentlyโข feature local news, ensuring accurateโ and ethical journalism can effectively counter misinformation.
The fifth step focuses on โrepresentation. โThe โฃUK journalism โฃworkforce currently lacks diversity, beingโข disproportionately white and able-bodied, with financial barriers hindering working-class individuals โfrom entering the profession. Increasing diversity across all axes ofโ identity is paramount to ensuring local news accuratelyโฃ reflects and serves the communities it covers.โข Data from the NCTJ highlights this ongoing disparity.
local โขnews must โbe engaging.โข Asโฃ Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director of the Public Interest News Foundation, emphasizes, “Localโ newsโฃ will never becomeโข sustainable if it’s like โคthe vegetables we’re supposed to eat but just can’t stomach. Local news has โคgot to be a tastyโ mix of great stories and genuinely useful information.”โ
The forces seeking to undermine democracy are actively targeting local news. Simply statingโค its importance is insufficient; local news must be โcompelling โand โvaluable to regainโข public support. While challenges areโ significant, pioneering journalists worldwide are โalready demonstrating โขinnovative approaches. These efforts requireโ access to “patient capital” – โคinvestment focused on long-term sustainability – to build accountable, representative, and engaging local news models.
The window of opportunity to regenerate local news is closing. Urgent action is needed to ensure โits survival and, ultimately,โฃ the health of democraticโ norms.