Independent, investigative, in the public interest

Exeter Observer is owned and managed, researched and written, designed and developed, promoted and distributed by people who share a mission to strengthen civil society and help people participate more effectively in local democracy.

Exeter Observer is editorially and financially independent, which means we can produce and publish our content without political or commercial bias.

We’ll never publish advertorial, clickbait or party political broadcasts and we don’t have a profit-driven commercial agenda or a business model that invades your privacy or facilitates the spread of fake news.

Instead we deliver in-depth articles and investigative journalism with real relevance and impact while informing and empowering the communities we serve.

This means we’ll keep people who live or work in Exeter informed of what’s being done in their name, by whom, with the community assets they own and the taxes they pay.

We seek to increase public understanding of complex local issues and decision-making processes, make pertinent information more widely accessible and stimulate more inclusive and better-informed debate.

Many of our stories are focussed on local democracy, climate change, spatial development and mobility but we also cover the local economy and Exeter’s cultural and community life.

We aim to amplify local voices, support community dialogue and inspire action for change.

“It is a necessary condition of the freedom of the press to act in the public interest.”

Harold Evans, Sunday Times editor 1967-1981

Exeter Observer observes industry best-practice principles and is fully accountable:

• as a Community Benefit Society we must pass a community benefit test and submit an annual report to the Financial Conduct Authority
• as an IMPRESS member we adhere to a Standards Code and have a robust complaints procedure with access to an independent arbitration service
• as an ICNN member we maintain our editorial independence and high professional standards via adherence to the NUJ Code of Conduct.
• as a member of the BBC Local News Partnerships we meet strict eligibility criteria and maintain standards including adherence to the Editors’ Code of Practice
• as a member of Co-operatives UK we recognise the co-operative values and principles defined by the international Statement on the Co-operative Identity.

Exeter Observer publishes independent public interest journalism which holds wealth, power and the influence of individuals and institutions to account by investigating their actions and challenging them in the public sphere.

More about Exeter Observer

• Civil society and democratic literacy
• Journalism with community benefit at its heart
• A local fourth estate
• Development strategy references

Exeter Observer is published by Exeter Observer Limited, Community Benefit Society No. 8435 registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.

Our registered address is St Sidwell’s Community Centre, Sidwell Street, Exeter EX4 6NN.