Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, has co-authored a report for the Charitable Journalism Project, which examines the effect that the decline in provision of local news is having on communities.
The report, titled ‘Local News Deserts in the UK’, was written by Dr Steven Barclay, a former doctoral student at the University of Westminster who is now at City, University of London, with Professor Barnett, Dr Martin Moore of King’s College London and Dr Judith Townend of the University of Sussex acting as research advisors and co-authors.
The report was sponsored by the newly formed Charitable Journalism Project, which aims to help local not-for-profit news outlets gain charitable status. At a launch in the House of Commons on 15 June 2022, chaired by Baroness Bonham Carter, a presentation of the findings by Dr Barclay was followed by questions and a discussion of the report’s implications for policy makers.
The aim of the report was to investigate how local people find local news and information in the absence of professional journalism; to understand the impact of the lack of local news and information in the areas identified; and to assess the effects on democratic participation.
This comes in light of knowledge gaps about ‘news deserts’ – areas where provision of local news has declined or disappeared. Most notably, the researchers note that there has been a lack of empirical data on what impact this has on local communities.
Amongst other findings, the report concluded that social media platforms are now the dominant source of local news and information; that local newspapers are no longer perceived as ‘community glue’, holding community identity and collective emotion; that there is a significant lack of knowledge about local politics and current affairs, which can drive mistrust; and that respondents would like to see trusted, locally based, professional and accessible sources of local news.
Speaking about the significance of this report, Professor Barnett said: “We have known for many years that the progressive decline in funding for local newsrooms has reduced the quality and quantity of trustworthy news and information for local communities. This in-depth study has demonstrated in shocking detail how that decline has affected the communities themselves, and the urgent need for action. One easy, cost-free approach is to make it easier for local non-profit journalism enterprises to access the benefits of charitable status.”
Read the full report on the Charitable Journalism Project’s website.
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