Exeter Observer is now a member of the Independent Community News Network, having satisfied its high publication standards and been approved by its independent Professional Standards and Admissions Committee.
Criteria for ICNN membership include upholding high professional standards of journalism including accuracy, transparency, integrity, accountability and fairness, editorial and operational independence from political, commercial and religious interests and a clear community focus.
A robust complaints procedure and adherence to the IMPRESS Standards Code and the National Union of Journalists’ Code of Conduct are also required, alongside a transparent management and ownership structure.
Further membership criteria include a minimum of six months active publication history of contemporaneous news or news-related content which does not involve aggregation or churnalism.
The ICNN was founded in 2018 and is run by the Centre for Community Journalism, part of Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies.
The network has over 100 members across the UK whose interests it represents on the BBC Local Democracy Reporters Forum and the Nesta Future News Fund advisory board.
ICNN membership benefits include, among other things, access to free media law advice.