Community newspaper funding – how would it work?

Noticed an interesting piece about possible cash being allocated to communities where their local  newspapers have closed.

Public funding for community newspaper start-ups could be provided in Wales under plans being discussed by politicians in the principality, says Hold The Front Page.

Half-a-million has already been allocated to help boost community radio stations in Wales – and a fund for community newspapers could be up next.

On the surface, I think it’s a fantastic initiative which would have an obvious impact on my project if it were rolled out in England too.

As I’ve said before on this blog, nature abhors a vacuum, and if regional publishers withdraw from the communities they serve they’ll soon find other forms of media springing up in their place.

It’s democratically and socially essential that communities are empowered with a voice, and that they have access to local news, information and services.

So it all sounds grand in principle.

But, if you take England as an example, if the government allocated half a million for community newspaper start-ups, how would it work practically?

Would the government have editorial control? Could they withdraw funding if they didn’t like what was written? Would  it really be an independent voice?

As Rupert Murdoch said this week, the thought of any government having a stake in a media organisation hoping to have genuine freedom of speech and being free from political bias is enough to make most people shiver.

You’d have to have an independent body to the government, similar but perhaps a bit more official to online’s Talk About Local, to help local people set up their community newspapers.

You’d also have to offer ongoing support and training. Would a journalist(s) sit in some sort of regional group editor/support role?

There needs to be some degree of professional support.

No matter how transparent you are that the paper’s written by the community or community editors/reporters, you need a journalist or someone with industry experience providing credibility and authority in the eyes of readers – in print more than online.

And you need the experience of an experienced journalist if you’re going to cover council/expose council wrongdoing.

I’ll be looking at developments with interest - there’s a lot more work ahead other than just providing an handing out the cash.

The structure of any government initiative and the support on offer is just as important as the money in nthe long term.

Advertisement