News that starts with the people who are normally asked last
The local news decline and why it matters
Care about independent and ethical news? Support Media Storm on Patreon!64 years ago, national news journalist and editor Francis Williams lamented the decline of the local press in the UK. “Once the battle for freedom of news and opinion found its daily reflection in competing morning and evening newspapers with deep roots in local interests and loyalties. The position has so altered that [the public] must content themselves with what is offered to them by one evening paper only.”
In 1958, Williams was outraged by the close of 225 newspapers in 40 years. Yet fast forward, and in just 10 years (2009-2019) more than 320 local titles closed.
Why is this happening?
The decline is multifaceted: a huge shift to online advertising means stretched publications push to get clicks on the company website at any cost. Local news stories fade away while celebrity gossip grows. Time-poor journalists replace court reporting with write-ups of press releases, and duplicated clickbait becomes the bread and butter of ‘zombie’ papers.
Why does it matter?
Well, bad journalism is bad for democracy, bad for community – and good for disinformation. Multiple studies have concluded that people who live in areas with poor local news coverage are less likely to vote. Plus, with less information on local health or education services and a lack of understanding of your local area, communities become more insular and isolated.
To talk through all this and more are two journalists who live and love local news. Before becoming head of news at both HuffPost UK and openDemocracy, Ramzy Alwakeel edited the Islington Gazette and Hackney Gazette, and worked at the Barking & Dagenham Post and the Romford Recorder. Joshi Herrmann is the founder of Mill Media – launched during the Covid-19 lockdown as a newsletter in Manchester, the local news company has since grown across seven cities.
This episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (@mathildamall) and Helena Wadia (@helenawadia)
It was edited by Christy Callaway-Gale
The music is by @soundofsamfire
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