Local news: Pains and pleasure
By Andy Pearson
The future of local news came under the spotlight last night at a Swansea meeting of journalists, politicians and academics.
With recession, new media and increasingly rusty business models leading to cuts in newspaper editions, TV resources and jobs the question was: Is there a future for local news?
The answer was “yes” – with considerable excitement attached – but the concern was that potential news providers of the future had yet to define the perfect way forward.
The discussion, hosted by the Swansea branch of the National Union of Journalists, featured key-note addresses by ITV Wales’ Kay Byrne, journalism PhD student Rachel Howells and the Media Standards Trust’s Martin Moore.
Byrne, who produced a half-hour documentary this year on Port Talbot’s local news provision since the 2009 demise of its weekly paper the Port Talbot Guardian, said there was a feeling of hopelessness amongst townsfolk looking for regular local news.
Howells, whose three-year university study is exploring potential routes forward, said that although the picture was bleak there was no black hole in news provision as grassroots providers were working hard.
Moore said he had identified four key pillars of future local news provision: a new cost structure to news production; greater collaboration between news providers; an entrepreneurial spirit; and a more benign regulatory framework which could open the way for tax breaks and charitable news organisations.
There were contributions from reporters on the South Wales Evening Post, Swansea Council opposition leader David Phillips, former ITV journalist Paul Starling, NUJ Wales official Ken Smith and Cardiff University journalism specialist Andy Williams.
So is there a way forward?
It’s imperative that there is - for community, democracy and business.
It’s good to see the issue being talked about with such passion, understanding and drive.
Tags: Andy Williams, Cardiff, Cardiff University, Martin Moore, Media Standards Trust, Port Talbot, PR, PR agency, Rachel Howells, Swansea, Wales
