A New Era for Independent Community News
Ping News is set to launch its innovative news delivery platform in May, bringing high-quality independent community news to newsrooms up and down the UK.
Ping! – the Public Interest News Gateway – supports independent community journalists by creating new revenue streams, helping to create a more sustainable and diverse news ecosystem.
With Ping! regional and national publishers can access rich local content from every region of the UK on demand from hundreds of professional independent community journalists.
This daily flow of regional, multimedia content is provided by ICNN’s 100+ members – reputable, quality-assured reporters embedded in their communities filing the very best in local news.
Despite the decline of traditional print media, the public’s appetite for local news remains strong. This has created a gap in the market for quality and trustworthy sources of independent community news.
Ping News is bridging this gap by providing a platform for independent community journalists to share their work with regional and national publishers. This ensures that news that might otherwise go unreported is given the attention it deserves.
Designed and built in partnership with ICNN and Bristol-based web app development company Omni Digital, Ping! enables regional and national publishers to stay up-to-date, access unique or trending stories, be more engaging and deliver more to audiences.
With content accessed using Ping!, publishers can drive more traffic, generate more clicks and ultimately grow revenue.
Deputy Director of ICNN and Director of Ping News, Matt Abbott said: “Ping! is an exciting new platform that will change how communities are covered. We are committed to providing publishers with high quality, trustworthy independent community news they can rely on.”
He added: “With this free news delivery and income-generating technology, we are creating a more sustainable and diverse news ecosystem, and we are excited to be part of this new era for journalism.”
Darren Toogood, Editor/Publisher of the Isle of Wight-based Island Echo, said: “Ping has the potential to really change how local news is distributed, providing regional and national publications with stories they may otherwise miss. It also provides an opportunity for independent publishers like ourselves to benefit from a new revenue stream, which is all-important in these challenging times.
“Integrating Ping into our website has been incredibly easy. It has quickly become ingrained in our publishing process and only takes a few seconds to complete. It’s a no-brainer for us”.
Ping News, which is supported by the Google News Initiative, with additional funding from Nesta and Meta, is offering a free trial to regional and national publishers giving them the opportunity to access high-quality independent community news from across the UK.
Co-Director of Ping News, Sam Hearn said: “We want to encourage regional and national publishers to try Ping! and see the value it can bring to their organisations. We believe this platform will create a more sustainable and diverse local news ecosystem that benefits everyone.”
Ping News UK recently announced a partnership between Google and the Independent Community News Network members.
In a watershed moment for the industry, Forty-five independent titles have signed up to the Google News Showcase to better connect with audiences and strengthen their offering.
The financial support provided by Google helps build much-needed sustainability and cements the sector within the wider journalism ecosystem.
