The Government has today (April 17, 2020) launched a public health campaign that will simply not reach many communities across the UK.
The All-in, All together campaign is a partnership between the Cabinet Office and the ‘newspaper industry’.
However, the newspaper industry, as used here, refers to titles represented by the News Media Association such as Reach plc, JPIMedia Ltd, and Newsquest, and does not include small and medium-sized independent news organisations.
While the campaign is a welcome response from the government to provide essential information at this time and is also a demonstration of the government’s support for the press, members of the public will not read about it unless they pick up a copy of their regional or national newspaper. Of the 600 titles included in the scheme, 10 are national and the rest are regional and local.
Collectively, members of ICNN reach over 5m people online each month and over half a million in print. This makes us the fourth largest news publishing organisation in the UK.
Our members are the true frontline key workers in this industry who are keeping communities afloat with genuine, accurate and important information during this pandemic.
Sadly, they are also the ones most at risk from the current crisis. The impact of COVID-19 on our member organisations could have a catastrophic impact on public health across the UK. If they are unable to continue reporting, due to lack of Government intervention, entire communities will lose access to their only source of local news and information.
So far, ICNN and other independent news organisations have been excluded from the Government’s public health campaign. This means they have excluded communities too.
It is critical for public health that independent community news organisations continue to give essential, verified and useful information to the communities they serve.
Any public health campaign that does not include our members (who need relatively very little to survive) is insufficient and is a dereliction of the government’s duty to communities at this time.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Gove, is right to say that ‘newspapers are the lifeblood of our communities and we need them now more than ever. Their role as a trusted voice and their ability to reach isolated communities is especially vital at this time.’
However, this is more true of the independent sector than any other.
Our members are going above and beyond their roles as journalists to cover the COVID-19 crisis. They are putting their lives at risk daily to deliver essential and up-to-date information to their communities.
Many of our members are the only news publishers in their areas, some covering entire counties and cities.
If these publishers are forced to close, the UK will be left with many more news black holes which we will struggle to fill again.
ICNN has been in regular discussions with the Department for Culture, Media and Transport for the last few weeks.
We have consistently presented our case and our asks to them alongside the NMA, The Guardian and other key representatives, at a previous media roundtable with John Whittingdale and his team.
Our #saveindependentnews campaign, supported by Dame Frances Cairncross, has gained a groundswell of support from MPs across parties.
It is time for the Government to finally recognise the enormous value and vital role of independent community news publishers.
Richard Fuller MP for NE Bedfordshire
“Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire has joined calls for greater support for independent local media outlets. Richard said “There was already a significant local “democratic deficit” with the decline and closure of local newspapers which, certainly in Bedfordshire, had a great record in holding local councils, mayors and MPs to account as well as highlighting other issues of concern in local services and businesses. The current medical crisis has brought into even sharper focus the importance of local media outlets, including online publications such as The Bedford Independent and printed publications such as the Bedfordshire Bulletin, which can be relied upon to provide useful local reporting. I am joining calls for local councils and government departments to channel more of their public notices through these outlets so that local people can access important messages more easily and quickly.”
Mohammad Yasin MP for Bedford & Kempston
“Excellent journalism is about uncovering information, to dig for truth, to highlight what would otherwise remain unseen. Regional, independent journalists are plugged into their communities and to the stories that matter in a way that simply can’t happen from behind a national newsroom desk, miles away from the action. Quality, community news is in peril and as shown by the recent demise of the Bedforshire Times and Citizen, it’s more important than ever that the scarce local news platforms that remain, like the Bedford Independent, are cherished and supported for the vital role they play in our community and to democracy.”
Kieran Mullan MP for Crewe & Nantwich
“I know how trusted our local member (Nantwich News) is and how big their reach is. I have asked the Department of Health to ensure they are considering local news media as avenues for public advertising which is so important at the moment. We need to reach everyone.”
Hilary Benn MP for Leeds Central
“Independent publications like South Leeds Life are vital to local communities like ours, especially at times like this. We need to keep them going through this crisis so that they can carry on serving local people once it’s over. The problem is that advertising revenue has been severely hit, so one way Government could help would be to place public health information advertisements in these newspapers.”
Tommy Sheppard MP for Edinburgh East
“Independent community news networks are vital to ensure our communities have accurate, informative, local news. The Edinburgh Reporter provides news and information to the people of Edinburgh that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Now, more than ever, the government must help ensure community news sources survive.”
Bob Seely MP for Isle of Wight
“Local journalism, both in printed form and on online news sites, is important to help keep people in the community informed, especially people who are self-isolating and are not out and about hearing news from their family, friends and work colleagues in the way they normally would. “
Joanna Cherry MP for Edinburgh South West
“Local independent news journalism covers stories that the national titles don’t cover and reaches people in our communities who are often neglected by the MSM. It performs an essential function by informing people about what is going on in their local communities and about local services they might benefit from. Its digital formats are particularly useful for the housebound and so invaluable in the current crisis. The Edinburgh Reporter is the go to source for many local people who want to know what is going on in their immediate locality. It is essential that it does not fail.”
Kate Osamor MP for Edmonton
“Local independent news is essential to any democracy, and must not fall victim to Covid-19. Without papers like the Enfield Dispatch giving a crucial voice to locals, our media landscape will be little more than billionaire-owned corporations and vested interests. The Government must do far more to make sure local media survives Covid-19, and must do so quickly.”
Feryal Clark MP for Enfield North
“Local, independent news organisations, such as Enfield Dispatch are the lifeblood of trusted reporting of news relevant to their communities. Government should financially support local media outlets at this crucial time, especially as we try and combat fake news, and where the public are more likely to trust local news sources. We can all do our bit, whether that is by reading the local news, or as a local businesses by supporting their efforts through advertising in their publications.”
Chris Clarkson, MP for Heywood & Middleton.
