Exeter Observer is different. Our rigorous independent journalism has real-world impact while avoiding the failings of legacy local news business models to prove that reader-funded media can deliver the accountable public interest journalism our democracy needs.
We have scrutinised policy and decision-making, exposed misuse of public money and resources, examined key issues and organisations, championed open democracy and revealed information that would otherwise remain obscured.
We have leveraged transparency legislation and information access rights to hold public bodies to account, and informed external authorities of our findings so compliance failures are addressed and information and governance standards improved.
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want published; everything else is public relations.”
Source uncertain, often misattributed to George Orwell
We have engaged and enraged decision-makers and others in leadership roles as well as those behind the scenes with influence over issues which affect us all.
At the same time we have empowered civil society actors by equipping them with information and insight they would otherwise lack, enabling them to intervene in the interests of the communities they represent.