Exeter Observer’s business development is informed by perspectives derived from a wide range of sources. Notable research and reports from the past decade that are available online are listed below, followed by relevant material from other sources.
Challenges and opportunities for UK local media: Insights from academic research, Simona Bisiani & Agnes Gulyas, Canterbury Christ Church University, October 2025.
Politics and social media: Scrolling politics - engagement, trust and polarisation in the digital age, British Social Attitudes survey, National Centre for Social Research, June 2025.
Britain’s democracy: A health check, British Social Attitudes survey, National Centre for Social Research, June 2025.
Digital News Report 2025, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, June 2025.
UK Journalists in the 2020s, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, May 2025.
World Press Freedom Index 2025, Reporters Without Borders, May 2025.
Media Freedom Under Attack: Examining Legislative Threats to Media Freedom in the United Kingdom, Centre for Freedom of the Media, January 2025.
2025 UK Trust Barometer, Edelman, January 2025.
Review of local media in the UK - Part 2: Final report, Ofcom, November 2024.
The future of news, House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, November 2024.
Review of local media in the UK - initial findings, Ofcom, July 2024.
Digital News Report 2024, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, June 2024.
News Futures 2035 - Final report, François Nel & Kamila Rymajdo, University of Central Lancashire, May 2024.
World Press Freedom Index 2024, Reporters Without Borders, May 2024.
Securing the Future of UK Public-Interest News: Navigating Change With Foresight and Innovation, François Nel & Kamila Rymajdo, University of Central Lancashire, February 2024.
2024 UK Trust Barometer, Edelman, January 2024.
Who Owns the UK Media?, Media Reform Coalition, October 2023.
Digital News Report 2023, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, June 2023.
Sustainability of local journalism - Government response, House of Commons Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee, May 2023.
World Press Freedom Index 2023, Reporters Without Borders, May 2023.
UK plunges to lowest-ever position in Corruption Perceptions Index, Transparency International UK, January 2023.
Sustainability of local journalism, House of Commons Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee, January 2023.
2023 UK Trust Barometer, Edelman, January 2023.
Freefall: how a year of chaos has undermined trust in politics, Institute for Public Policy Research, November 2022.
Political disengagement in the UK: who is disengaged?, House of Commons Library, November 2022.
Local News Deserts in the UK, Charitable Journalism Project, June 2022.
Digital News Report 2022, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, June 2022.
Sustainability of local journalism enquiry, House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, 2022.
2022 UK Trust Barometer, Edelman, January 2022.
Free to succeed: Does press freedom influence the entrepreneurial orientation and the reader revenue performance of independent news media firms?, Francois Nel, Coral Milburn-Curtis, Katja Lehtisaari & Aske Kammer, Newspaper Research Journal, 2020.
Digital News Report 2022, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford, June 2021.
Breaking News? The Future of UK Journalism, House of Lords Communications & Digital committee, November 2020.
Publish less, but publish better: pivoting to paid in local news, Joy Jenkins, Reuters Institute, September 2020.
Digital Technology and the Resurrection of Trust, House of Lords Democracy & Digital Technologies committee, June 2020.
Digital News report 2020, Reuters Institute, June 2020.
Case Studies in Collaborative Local Journalism, Joy Jenkins and Lucas Graves, Reuters Institute, April 2019.
Disinformation and “fake news”, House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, February 2019.
The Cairncross Review: a sustainable future for journalism, Dame Frances Cairncross, February 2019.
Submission to The Cairncross Review into the current and future market environment facing the press and high quality journalism in the UK, Gordon Ramsey and Martin Moore, Kings College London, February 2019.
2019 UK Trust Barometer, Edelman, 2019.
Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now, Alan Rusbridger, Canongate, September 2018.
Hyperlocal Journalism: The decline of local newspapers and the rise of online community news, David Harte, Rachel Howells and Andy Williams, Routledge, July 2018.
Guide to audience revenue and engagement, Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, February 2018.
The UK’s Changing Democracy: The 2018 Democratic Audit, Patrick Dunleavy, Alice Park, Ros Taylor, London School of Economics, 2018.
Membership in News Literature Review, Jacob Nelson, Membership Puzzle Project, New York University, 2017.
Mapping Changes in Local News 2015-2017: More Bad News For Democracy?, Gordon Ramsay, Des Freedman, Dan Jackson and Einar Thorsen, Bournemouth University, 2017.
Journalism for democracy and communities: a new framework, Journalism That Matters, 2017.
Hyperlocal revenues in the UK and Europe: the road to sustainability, Clare Cook, Kathryn Geels & Piet Bakker, Nesta, July 2016.
Monopolising Local News - Is there an emerging local democratic deficit in the UK due to the decline of local newspapers?, Gordon Ramsey and Martin Moore, Kings College London, May 2016.
Local Journalism and the Information Needs of Local Communities, Philip Napoli, Sarah Stonbely, Kathleen McCollough & Bryce Renninger, Journalism Practice, 11:4, 373-395, February 2016.
The Cost of One-Party Councils, Mihály Fazekas, Electoral Reform Society, October 2015.
The Value of UK hyperlocal Community News, Andy Williams, Dave Harte and Jerome Turner, Digital Journalism, 3:5, 680-703, 2015.
Addressing the Democratic Deficit in Local News through Positive Plurality, Martin Moore, Media Standards Trust, October 2014.
The Changing Role of the Local News Media in Enabling Citizens to Engage in Local Democracies, Julie Firmstone & Stephen Coleman, Journalism Practice, 8:5, 596-606, 2014.
The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Local - Findings From The Carnegie UK Trust’s Neighbourhood News Initiative, Carnegie Trust, 2014.
“It is a necessary condition of the freedom of the press to act in the public interest.”
Regional daily ABCs: Print circulation down by average of 18% in H1 2025, Alice Brooker, Press Gazette, October 2025.
Automated PR tool is bombarding UK media with AI-generated content, Rob Waugh, Press Gazette, October 2025.
Slow digital growth sees Reach revenue fall in third quarter, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, October 2025.
Google appears to prioritise global newsbrands over local ones for breaking news events, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, October 2025.
FT says AI-personalised paywall messaging has quadrupled conversion rate, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, September 2025.
Is support from Government for local news about to happen?, Behind Local News, September 2025.
Reach to cut editorial headcount by 186 in ‘biggest reorganisation’ yet, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, September 2025.
No news is bad news when it comes to local journalism, Stephen Armstrong, The Observer, August 2025.
Free guide helps local news chase charity status after pioneer’s mixed results, Marcela Kunova and Jacob Granger, Journalism, August 2025.
Reach to ‘radically reorganise’ editorial structure with one live news team, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, August 2025.
More UK news publishers are adopting ‘consent or pay’ advertising model, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, August 2025.
Council backs anonymous trolls in accusing local democracy reporter of political bias, Behind Local News, July 2025.
Reach to put ‘serious focus’ on subscriptions but expects to keep most news free, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, July 2025.
Index of Independent News Publishing In the UK 2025, Public Interest News Foundation, June 2025.
Survey of Indie News Audiences 2025, Public Interest News Foundation, June 2025.
Reach launches series of Substack-based newsletters in bid to broaden audience, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, June 2025.
Lisa Nandy tells the BBC to start collaborating with local publishers. What happens next?, Behind Local News, June 2025.
Reach journalists reluctantly accept 2% pay increase, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, June 2025.
BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service: what’s working and what’s not?, Jonathan Heawood, Journalism, May 2025.
Who will be running the Local Democracy Reporter contracts until 2027?, Behind Local News, May 2025.
New Local Democracy Reporter Scheme contracts announced, Jason Gibbins, BBC, May 2025.
Local Democracy Reporting Service 2025 contact award notice, BidStats, May 2025.
Lebedev promises to keep funding Standard after another £20m loss, Joanna Partridge, The Guardian, May 2025.
What comes next?, Hannah Williams, The Londoner, April 2025.
Regenerating Local News in the UK - The Report of the Local News Commission, Public Interest News Foundation, March 2025.
London Is a Local-News Desert. What Comes Next?, Sam Knight, March 2025.
Mirror editor says newsroom ‘coming along on journey’ with page-view targets, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2025.
Reach CEO Jim Mullen steps down with immediate effect, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2025.
Regional newspaper ABCs: No UK daily now has print circulation of 20,000 or more, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, March 2025.
Reach bonuses: £600 each for staff and £662,000 for CEO, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, March 2025.
Mirror, Express and Star owner says its print titles will be loss-making from 2031, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, March 2025.
Cost cuts and growing digital revenue boost Reach profits for 2024, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, March 2025.
Former Independent editor says AI will free up reporters to create more ‘guff’, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, March 2025.
Nine reasons why Mirror journalists think page-view targets are wrong, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, January 2025.
Shares in Daily Mirror owner Reach rise as it says it will beat profit forecasts, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, January 2025.
Mirror journalists given individual online page-view targets, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, January 2025.
The UK’s biggest news media companies: New top 50 ranking by revenue, Bron Maher and Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, January 2025.
Diversify or die? 23 media leaders reveal how to make news pay in 2025, Charlotte Tobitt and Bron Maher, Press Gazette, December 2024.
UK’s biggest online publishers: Reddit growing fast, Mail sees sharp traffic drop, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, December 2024.
Google to fund £800k expansion of public notice portal, Paul Linford, Hold the Front Page, December 2024.
Can billionaire media moguls be trusted in Trump’s America?, Emily Bell, The Guardian, December 2024.
Reach editorial boss: BBC should work with us, not against us, Paul Rowland, Press Gazette, December 2024.
Ofcom: BBC now part of ‘headwinds’ facing local news publishers, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, November 2024.
Reach ends year with more redundancies but reports net increase in staff, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, November 2024.
Google Discover has become Reach’s ‘biggest referrer of traffic’, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, November 2024.
Tortoise boss makes last-ditch plea with Observer staff set to strike, Daniel Thomas, FT, November 2024.
NUJ voices Local Democracy Reporter concern over pay and working outside their brief, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, October 2024.
Reach race to publish more stories does not put audience (or reporters) first, Rachel McGrath, Press Gazette, October 2024.
Why Reach journalists are being asked to write up to eight articles per day, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, October 2024.
Reach bosses in drive to increase websites’ story volumes, Paul Linford, Hold the Front Page, October 2024.
Reach CEO Jim Mullen: If government advertises with us, we’ll employ more reporters, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, October 2024.
Reach CEO Jim Mullen says regulation needed to save free online news, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, September 2024.
UK local news websites see audience bounceback, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, August 2024.
UK local newspaper closures update: 293 now gone since 2005, Thomas Hunter, Press Gazette, August 2024.
Reach reports first digital revenue growth since 2022, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, July 2024.
Publishers around the world hit by Facebook labelling news as spam, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, June 2024.
Independent UK news publishers see falls in revenue, audience and staff, Clara Aberneithie, Press Gazette, May 2024.
So it’s goodbye to London’s Standard, my old paper - and to the heart of democracy, local news, Simon Jenkins, The Guardian, May 2024.
London Evening Standard to close daily newspaper and launch new weekly, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, May 2024.
Radio Exe has largest-ever audience, Radio Exe, May 2024.
Facebook’s referral traffic for publishers down 50% in 12 months, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, May 2024.
First Google core update of 2024 brings bad news for most news publishers, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, May 2024.
Reach page views down by a third after Facebook and Google changes, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, May 2024.
UK local news mapping report, Public Interest News Foundation, April 2024.
Open Democracy cuts about ten jobs, including head of news and political correspondent, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, April 2024.
UK news media rich list 2024: 60 highest-earning execs revealed, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, April 2024.
Top 50 UK news websites: Most brands report audience dip in February, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, April 2024.
Reach plans to move 300 journalists into central traffic-driving content hub, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2024.
Reach creates 120-strong audio and video content team called Studio, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2024.
Why should philanthropists fund journalism?, Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, March 2024.
‘Glimmer of hope’ for local news as Surrey publication given charitable status, Alexandra Topping, The Guardian, March 2024.
Regional ABCs: Print decline for UK dailies averaged 19% in second half of 2023, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, March 2024.
Mirror publisher Reach cuts sum set aside for phone-hacking payouts, Jane Croft, The Guardian, March 2024.
Reach results 2023: Revenue falls 5% as print outperforms digital, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2024.
Newsquest and Reach bosses respond to questions over local news quality, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, February 2024.
Reach using AI to speed up ‘ripping’ and use same article on multiple sites, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, February 2024.
Charity Commission throws lifeline to UK local news sector, George Brock, Press Gazette, February 2024.
Colossal decline of UK regional media since 2007 revealed, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, February 2024.
Local news website gains charitable status in landmark decision, Paul Linford, Hold the Front Page, February 2024.
Local news in the UK is in deep trouble. But this band of radicals could change everything, Jonathan Heawood, The Guardian, February 2024.
Collapse of local media leaves us all in the dark, Alexandra Topping, The Guardian, February 2024.
As editor exits, can Mirror and owner Reach survive ad crisis?, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, January 2024.
Reach reveals ‘three pillars’ that prepare it for end of third-party cookies, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, January 2024.
Mirror publisher’s boss warns print titles could become loss-making in five years, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, January 2024.
From bot reporters to the loss of a legendary editor, the Daily Mirror is hanging by a thread, Jane Martinson, The Guardian, January 2024.
British Journalism Awards winners 2023, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, December 2023.
BBC Nations news chief says local news expansion won’t harm existing media outlets, Press Gazette, December 2023.
BBC responds to ‘neighbour from hell’ claims - but fails to mention local radio cuts, Behind Local News, December 2023.
Why BBC is ‘the neighbour from hell’ for leading regional newsbrand editors, Ian Carter et al, Press Gazette, December 2023.
Mirror strikes victory for honest opinion as Dyson loses £1m libel bid, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, December 2023.
‘End of days’: staff at Mirror and Express owner Reach brace for grim Christmas, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, November 2023.
The audience data behind Reach decision to close 13 regional newsbrands, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, November 2023.
Reach restructure: 450 jobs to go, websites to close, print and online teams to combine, Dominic Ponsford and Bron Maher, Press Gazette, November 2023.
Why the press has questions to answer over its coverage of Nicola Bulley, Alice Watkins, Hacked Off, November 2023.
The Three ‘Cs’ of Digital Local Journalism: Community, Commitment and Continuity, Agnes Gulyas, Digital Journalism, November 2023.
To name or not to name: When does the public interest outweigh a right to privacy?, David Leigh, IMPRESS, November 2023.
Co-op media turns out for the Independent News Forum 2023, Alice Toomer-McAlpine, Co-op News, November 2023.
So, farewell then, Twitter, Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, November 2023.
The King’s Speech and the Media Bill, Media Reform Coalition, November 2023.
The Online Safety Act: How we can help you comply with the new law, IMPRESS, November 2023.
Mirror and Express newspapers publisher to cut about 450 jobs, Matthew Weaver, Mark Sweney & Alexandra Topping, The Guardian, November 2023.
Untrusted, unaccountable and in an unhealthy relationship with the Government: Is the press a roadblock to a functional democracy?, Alice Watkins, Hacked Off, November 2023.
10 Years of the Royal Charter: Building A Sustainable Legacy For Press Regulation, IMPRESS, October 2023.
The local news website turning its back on Twitter (or X if we really must), Behind Local News, October 2023.
How do we reform local government spending on public notices?, Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, October 2023.
British Journalism Awards shortlist 2023, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, October 2023.
How to design a £100m/yr UK journalism fund: by the people, of the people, for the people, Joe Mitchell, Public Interest News Foundation, September 2023.
Funding journalism using participatory grantmaking, Debs Grayson, Public Interest News Foundation, September 2023.
Climate of Misinformation - Ranking Big Tech, Climate Action Against Disinformation, September 2023.
Manchester Mill newsletter eyes expansion after £1.75m valuation, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, August 2023.
Don’t blame the BBC for the “death spiral” of local news, Alan Rusbridger, Prospect, August 2023.
Evening Standard reliant on Evgeny Lebedev’s funding after losses widen, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, August 2023.
Local newspaper group National World makes ambitious bid for Daily Telegraph, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, August 2023.
News Corp profits dive 75% as Rupert Murdoch-owned company hints at AI future, Jonathan Barrett, The Guardian, August 2023.
Reflections on the Local News Map, and next steps, Joe Mitchell, Public Interest News Foundation, August 2023.
Listening to Radio Exe up 70 per cent, Radio Exe, August 2023.
Guardian Media Group makes record revenues for news business, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, July 2023.
Telegraph Media Group says it will soon reach 1m paying subscribers, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, July 2023.
A statement of intent - How the sausage gets made, Jack Walton, The Post, July 2023.
Deserts, Oases and Drylands - Mapping the UK’s local news outlets, Joe Mitchell, Max Roche and Coral Milburn-Curtis, Public Interest News Foundation, July 2023.
Welsh Public Interest News Accelerator launches today, Matt Abbott, Independent Community News Network, July 2023.
Sheffield email newspaper celebrates second anniversary with 1,500 subscribers, Behind Local News, July 2023.
Tipping point in decline of magazines as one large printer remains in UK, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, July 2023.
London free newspaper City AM puts itself up for sale, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, July 2023.
BBC plans pose a threat to local journalism, Devon Live, July 2023.
Independent pays out £5m in dividends and makes sixth year of profit in a row, Joanna Partridge, The Guardian, June 2023.
First look! PINF’s Local News Map pilot, Joe Mitchell, Public Interest News Foundation, June 2023.
News Futures 2035 Initiative Calls for Collaborative Action to Safeguard Public-Interest News in the UK, Kamila Rymajdo, Media Innovation Studio, University of Central Lancashire, June 2023.
The miserable world of clickbait - and why I joined The Post, Abi Whistance, Liverpool Post, June 2023.
Bonus content from this year’s Index: ideas and resources for publishers, Joe Mitchell, Public Interest News Foundation, June 2023.
Tens of thousands raised in bid to launch new city paper, David Sharman, Hold the Front Page, June 2023.
How do we ensure digital competition legislation can support independent publishers?, Hani Barghouthi, Public Interest News Foundation, June 2023.
Why easier pathway to charity status could help boost UK local journalism income, George Brock, Press Gazette, May 2023.
Can we still handle the truth? Journalism, alternative facts and the rise of AI, Lenore Taylor, The Guardian, May 2023.
Community Health Reporters – a new role for local journalism?, Joe Mitchell, Public Interest News Foundation, May 2023.
‘Like Icarus - now everyone is burnt’: how Vice and BuzzFeed fell to earth, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, April 2023.
On press freedom, sustainability and international cooperation, Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, May 2023.
AI journalism is getting harder to tell from the old-fashioned, human-generated kind, Ian Tucker, The Observer, April 2023.
What happened at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia?, Joe Mitchell and Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, April 2023.
BuzzFeed News to close and parent company to make substantial layoffs, Jim Waterson & Maya Yang, The Guardian, April 2023.
Ping! launch, Matt Abbott, Independent Community News Network, April 2023.
A few scoops down at the local: the rise and fall of a community paper, Tim Adams, The Guardian, April 2023.
UK has internationally low confidence in political institutions, police and press, Kings College, London, March 2023.
Local journalism made me what I am today. Without it, we’ll all be the poorer, John Humphrys, The Guardian, March 2023.
UK to abolish law requiring press to pay legal costs when sued, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, March 2023.
On trust, audiences and digital tech: thoughts from the Society of Editors annual conference, Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, March 2023.
The model is broken: UK’s regional newspapers fight for survival in a digital world, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, March 2023.
Coming up next in the indie news world, Joe Mitchell, Public Interest News Foundation, March 2023.
Mirror and Express publisher warns that up to 420 staff are at risk of redundancy, Joanna Partridge, The Guardian, March 2023.
Can a UK news media bargaining code serve independent publishers?, Public Interest News Foundation, March 2023.
Mirror and Express owner publishes first articles written using AI, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, March 2023.
Daily Mail announces redundancy plans as print readership declines, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, March 2023.
ABCs: Regional dailies see average print decline of 19% (but online looking brighter), Press Gazette, March 2023.
IMA responds to Online Safety Bill, Independent Media Association, February 2023.
Newspapers’ demands for “reform” of police and media relations will lead to less transparency, more corruption & intrusion, Nathan Sparkes, Hacked Off, February 2023.
On a distributed support network for news providers: notes, Public Interest News Foundation, February 2023.
The Co-Creational Model for the News Media, Jonathan Heawood and Fabienne Peter, February 2023
Daily Mirror publisher explores using ChatGPT to help write local news, Financial Times, February 2023.
On news and communities: notes, Public Interest News Foundation, February 2023.
The Inquiry into local journalism sustainability failed to answer its main question, Behind Local News, February 2023.
Growing community-led investigations: the Bureau’s new pilot project, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, February 2023.
Information delayed is information denied, John Edwards, Local Government Chronicle, February 2023.
Publication schemes: a snapshot of compliance, Information Commissioner’s Office, February 2023.
Radio Exe’s audience rises 35 per cent, Radio Exe, February 2023.
£2.2m fund launched to support community businesses across the UK, Co-op News, January 2023.
What do people want from local news?, Public Interest News Foundation, January 2023.
Build and communicate evidence of impact: notes, Public Interest News Foundation, January 2023.
The Bristol Cable wins grant funding for community tech, Bristol Cable, January 2023.
Bristol Cable granted £40k from Power to Change to expand community tech, Co-op News, January 2023.
Who owns UK local news media? Print and digital consolidation charted, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, January 2023.
PINF welcomes parliamentary report on sustainability of local news, Public Interest News Foundation, January 2023.
More support needed to halt damaging decline of local journalism, DCMS Committee warns, House of Commons Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee, January 2023.
A PR campaign for independent news: notes, Public Interest News Foundation, January 2023.
Ten Years of Press Freedom, Hacked Off, January 2023.
Reach to make 200 redundancies as business hit by double whammy, Press Gazette, January 2023.
Mirror and Express publisher Reach to axe 200 roles in £30m cost-cutting drive, The Guardian, January 2023.
2022 Q4 trading update, Reach, January 2023.
Defining new models of journalism: notes, Public Interest News Foundation, January 2023.
Where else might we find evidence of impact of local journalism?, Public Interest News Foundation, December 2022.
Should news organisations be charities? Only with caution, Debs Grayson, Media Reform Coalition, December 2022.
Review of the impartiality of BBC coverage of taxation, public spending, government borrowing and debt, Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot, November 2022.
Can local journalism boost local democratic engagement? The full report from the PINF Impact Fund, Public Interest News Foundation, November 2022.
On news and communities, Public Interest News Foundation, November 2022.
A support network for news providers, Public Interest News Foundation, November 2022.
Build and communicate evidence of impact, Public Interest News Foundation, November 2022.
Trust me, I’m a journalist: New survey shows growing faith in profession, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, November 2022.
1 in 10 have made an Freedom of Information request, Alex Parsons, MySociety, November 2022.
Where public interest and public benefit meet: the application of charity law to journalism, Steven Barnett, Tom Murdoch & Judith Townend, Journal of Media Law, November 2022.
What happened at the Independent News Forum – and what happens next?, Public Interest News Foundation, November 2022.
National World plots takeover of Mirror and Express owner Reach, Mark Sweeney, The Guardian, November 2022.
Pulp friction: Why paper has become a huge headache for news publishers, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, October 2022.
How Bristol became a local news oasis, Andrew Kersley, Press Gazette, September 2022.
Local Knowledge and Epistemic Authority in Entrepreneurial Journalism, Karin Wahl-Jorgensen, Digital Journalism, September 2022.
Mirror owner’s profits fall by nearly a third as newsprint costs soar, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, July 2022.
PINF Impact Fund: Initial findings suggest local journalism boosts local democratic engagement, Public Interest News Foundation, July 2022.
Gloucestershire publisher hopes to ‘revolutionise’ regional media with membership model, Alfie Davis, Press Gazette, July 2022.
Evening Standard posts £14m loss in 2021 in fifth consecutive year without profit, Andrew Kersley, Press Gazette, July 2022.
Culture Secretary decides not to intervene in Newsquest takeover of Archant, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, July 2022.
The Ferret receives grant to develop and support solutions-focused journalism in Scotland, The Ferret, July 2022.
The Bristol Cable wins funding for “The Future of Cities” solutions series, The Bristol Cable, July 2022.
Four local publishers win funding to pioneer solutions journalism, Behind Local News, July 2022.
The first ten grantees of the Solutions Journalism Accelerator programme, Zlatina Siderova, European Journalism Centre, July 2022.
Public Interest Journalism Funding And Labour Issues, Media Reform Coalition, June 2022.
The PINF Index of Independent News Publishing in the UK, 2022, Public Interest News Foundation, June 2022.
Newsquest boosts profits to £45.2m and cuts 331 jobs in 2021, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, June 2022.
Reach shifts 150 local reporters to national coverage amid revenue dip, Andrew Kersley, Press Gazette, May 2022.
Archant CEO and editor-in-chief among senior departures following Newsquest takeover, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, April 2022.
Most website traffic is non-local for biggest UK regional news brands,
Most website traffic is non-local for biggest UK regional news brands, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, April 2022.
Will the news boom prevent more media outlets going bust?, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, April 2022.
Newsquest says Archant titles will have ‘much more secure future’ after sale, but staff fear cuts, Andrew Kersley, Press Gazette, March 2022.
Rival accuses Newsquest and Reach of treating journalists like ‘battery hens’ with page view targets, Andrew Kersley, Press Gazette, March 2022.
Newsquest buys rival regional publisher Archant, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, March 2022.
Archant asks magazine subscribers to ditch print in favour of ‘eco’ digital subscription, Andrew Kersley, Press Gazette, March 2022.
IPSO v Impress: Ten years after Leveson, how are the press ‘watchmen’ faring?, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, March 2022.
Value of Mirror publisher Reach plunges 25% after it warns of profit squeeze, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, March 2022.
Reach hits 10m registered users target ten months early as profit grows by 9%, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2022.
ABCs: Regional daily newspapers see average print circulations decline 10% year-on-year, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, February 2022.
New inquiry to examine future of local news industry, David Sharman, Hold the Front Page, February 2022.
Manifesto for a People’s Media, Jonathan Heawood, Public Interest News Foundation, February 2022.
New publisher buys independent title as plans for more launches revealed, David Sharman, Hold the Front Page, February 2022.
Newspaper group Archant up for sale 18 months after private equity buyout, Mark Sweney, The Guardian, January 2022.
The future’s bright: 22 news industry leaders share their tips for success in 2022, Charlotte Tobitt and William Turvill, Press Gazette, December 2021.
Survey shows people more likely to trust local news produced on patch - and willing to pay average of £1.30 per month, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, December 2021.
Manchester Mill celebrates first year and 1,000 members with print run, Bron Maher, Press Gazette, December 2021.
Archant to close two-thirds of offices after ‘very low’ numbers of staff return, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, December 2021.
Media Influence Matrix UK, Leo Watkins, Media Reform Coalition, November 2021.
BBC award for Radio Exe journalist, Paul Nero, Radio Exe, November 2021.
BBC Director General Opens Inspiring New Exeter College Studio, Exeter College, November 2021.
Public notices ‘saved’ in boost for local news organisations, Behind Local News, October 2021.
The Standard in crisis: read all about it, but for how much longer?, Vanessa Thorpe, The Observer, October 2021.
Radio Exe has biggest quarterly audience, Radio Exe, October 2021.
Clydesider: More than a Magazine, Social impact report 2018-21, Clydesider, September 2021.
Research: When local newspapers close, corporate corruption goes up, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, September 2021.
Archant sells three South West titles to new company led by ex-boss Simon Bax, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, August 2021.
Mapped: The UK’s 400 independent local news titles + Lincolnite and Bristol Cable on secrets to success, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, August 2021.
Online national newsbrands and consumer mags expected to recoup 2020 ad spend losses this year, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, July 2021.
Reach says it will employ more journalists than at any point in last decade by end of 2021, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, July 2021.
Survey shows broken link between reach and revenue as 56 independent publishers reach 10m but earn just £5.4m combined, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, July 2021.
PINF Index of Independent News Publishing in the UK 2021, Public Interest News Foundation, July 2021.
Publishers’ reliance on Google and Facebook is a problem for media independence, Andreas Vou, European Data Journalism Network, June 2021.
Substack invests in ‘thoughtful and nuanced’ local news in Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, June 2021.
West Leeds Dispatch wins £112,000 Lottery award, Matt Abbott, ICNN, May 2021.
Digital advertising revenue overtakes print at Reach, company reveals, Behind Local News, May 2021.
Charted: UK media ad revenue collapsed in 2020 for everyone except the tech platforms, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, April 2021.
Traffic to UK local news websites surged in 2020 - but digital revenue plummeted, Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, April 2021.
Reforming Freedom of Information, Rebecca Rumbul and Alex Parsons, mySociety, April 2021.
Local Demoracy Reporting Service suppliers from July 2021, BBC, April 2021.
New Local Democracy Reporter contract holders confirmed by BBC, Behind Local News, April 2021.
How the new local democracy reporter contracts have been divided, David Sharman, Hold the Front Page, April 2021.
Radio Exe wins BBC news contract, Radio Exe, April 2021.
The Guardian view on the need for news: local facts are sacred too, Editorial, The Guardian, April 2021.
Reach to have local news title covering every county in England and Wales by end of 2021, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, April 2021.
BBC to create network of 100 journalists in local digital reporting expansion, David Sharman, Hold the Front Page, March 2021.
The BBC Across the UK, BBC, March 2021.
BBC publishes blueprint for the biggest transformation in decades, BBC Media Centre, March 2021.
Reach closes most of its newsrooms as Mail Online staff return to office this month, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2021.
Mirror owner to tell most journalists to permanently work from home, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, March 2021.
Daily Telegraph plans to link journalists’ pay with article popularity, Archie Bland, The Guardian, March 2021.
After the pandemic, what does local journalism do next?, Behind Local News, March 2021.
What is journalism for? The short answer: truth, Clive Myrie, The Guardian, March 2021.
Reach full-year results: ‘Encouraging’ digital revenue boost, hacking costs exceed £100m, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2021.
The Guardian, ITN and Economist among news brands taking govt furlough cash in December, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, March 2021.
Who Is Accountable For Kemi Badenoch’s Public Attack On Our Journalist?, Jess Brammar, HuffPost, February 2021.
ABCs: UK local newspaper sales hard-hit by pandemic with daily market down 27%, Charlotte Tobitt and Aisha Majid, Press Gazette, February 2021.
Freedom of information is a right, but the government is intent on suppressing it, Mary Fitzgerald, The Guardian, February 2021.
Society joins call to investigate FoI ‘clearing house’, Ian Murray, Society of Editors, February 2021.
Prince Harry says social media misinformation is threat to democracies, Nadeem Badshah, The Guardian, January 2021.
Politicians and media getting more hostile towards charities, poll finds, Patrick Butler and Haroon Siddique, The Guardian, January 2021.
David Montgomery outlines plan to ‘decentralise’ JPI Media and shun ‘irrelevant or clickbait stories’, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, January 2021.
How the new local democracy reporter contracts will be divided, David Sharman, Hold the Front page, December 2020.
Owner of Scotsman and Yorkshire Post newspapers bought for £10m, Severin Carrell & Mark Sweney, The Guardian, December 2020.
Monty’s back: JPI Media sold to David Montgomery’s National World Plc for £10.2m, Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette, December 2020.
The Guardian reaches 1m subscribers and regular contributors, Archie Bland, The Guardian, December 2020.
Trust in News: First Report, Reuters Institute, December 2020.
UK government running ‘Orwellian’ unit to block release of ‘sensitive’ information, Peter Geoghegan, Jenny Corderoy & Lucas Amin, Open Democracy, November 2020.
Lords report calls for tech platforms to pay for news and an industry-wide diversity charter, Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ, November 2020.
Newsquest reports 88% pre-tax profit drop to £13.4m for 2019, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, November 2020.
ICO investigation into use of personal information and political influence, Letter to Julian Knight MP, Chair of Digital, Culture and Media and Sport Select Committee, ICO, October 2020.
Understanding a Maturing Community Shares Market Report 2020, Co-ops UK, October 2020.
UK gov report links local newspaper circulation and voter turnout: Absence of journalism in some areas potentially ‘catastrophic’, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, October 2020.
Public Interest News Foundation says it has ‘set model’ for what charitable journalism could look like, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, September 2020.
Charity registration decision: Public Interest News Foundation, Charity Commission, September 2020.
Print vs Digital, David Floyd, Social Spider, September 2020.
Archant bought by private equity: Shareholders wiped out, government set to take over pension fund, Freddy Mayhew, Press Gazette, August 2020.
Mirror and Express owner Reach to cut 550 jobs, Joanna Partridge, The Guardian, July 2020.
Facebook is out of control. If it were a country it would be North Korea, Carole Cadwalladr, The Guardian, July 2020.
The Social Value of Local Journalism, Tabitha Stapely, Social Streets, July 2020.
What is local news for (now)?, David Floyd, Social Spider, June 2020.
A Report on Underrepresented Communities and Local News, Bureau Local, June 2020.
Broken (local) news, David Floyd, Social Spider, May 2020.
Reach creates five new journalist jobs as it expands Cornwall and Devon news websites, Charlotte Tobitt, Press Gazette, February 2020.
Town of the Year push falls flat after failure to realise site is a city, Rajeev Syal, The Guardian, January 2020.
Read all about it: when can journalism be charitable?, Aarti Thakor, Charity Commission, January 2020.
Independent Community News Network annual report, Centre for Community Journalism, 2020.
The Resurgence and Importance of Email Newsletters, Nic Newman, Reuters Institute, 2020.
A Roadmap to Creating a Local News Collaboration, Bureau Local, 2020.
A Manifesto for a People’s Newsroom, Bureau Local, 2020.
The election in the media: against evasion and lies, good journalism is all we have, Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian, December 2019.
What we learned about the media this election, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, December 2019.
We can’t fight fake news without saving local journalism, Emily Bell, The Guardian, December 2019.
Thousands of misleading Conservative ads side-step scrutiny thanks to Facebook policy, Carlotta Dotto, First Draft, December 2019.
General election 2019: Row over Boris Johnson debate ‘empty chair’, BBC News, November 2019.
Mirror barred from Boris Johnson campaign battle bus, Freddy Mayhew, Press Gazette, November 2019.
Lib Dems lambasted over fake newspapers campaign material, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, November 2019.
Twitter accuses Tories of misleading public with ‘factcheck’ foray, Frances Perraudin, The Guardian, November 2019.
Undermining journalism has never been more popular amongst politicians. We should be very worried, David Higgerson, Behind Local News, November 2019.
Supporting Public Interest News: A Blueprint, IMPRESS, November 2019.
Paywalls, micropayments and donations: How regional press giants are trying to make news pay, Freddy Mayhew, Press Gazette, October 2019.
Engaged journalism playbook, Krautreporter, October 2019.
Stronger journalism through shared power, European Journalism Centre Engaged Journalism Accelerator, July 2019.
Read all about it? How local papers’ decline is starving communities of news, Jim Waterson, The Guardian, May 2019.
What media can learn from other member-driven movements, Emily Goligoski, Membership Puzzle Project, New York University, April 2019.
What would journalism look like if it was generated from within communities?, European Journalism Centre Engaged Journalism Accelerator, March 2019.
Former City banker wants to ‘reinvent’ local news with ‘low-cost’ platform and is looking to hire journalists, Freddy Mayhew, Press Gazette, March 2019.
Hyperlocal network aims to recruit 200 journalists to tackle towns’ “identity crisis”, David Sharman, Hold The Front Page, March 2019.
Western Europe and EU: stagnating anti-corruption efforts and weakening democratic institutions, Transparency International, January 2019.
Independent Community News Network annual report, Centre for Community Journalism, 2019.
Let’s talk about sustainability: the Bureau Local’s approach to business development, European Journalism Centre Engaged Journalism Accelerator, 2019.
Building the Bureau Local: a user guide, Bureau Local, 2019.
Facebook pledges £4.5m to fund 80 new UK community journalists in global first for social network, Freddy Mayhew, Press Gazette, November 2018.
One in Four Europeans Vote Populist, Paul Lewis, Seán Clarke, Caelainn Barr, Josh Holder and Niko Kommenda, The Guardian, November 2018.
Greed of major publishers partly to blame for hollowing out of UK local news media industry, Parliament told, Freddy Mayhew, Press Gazette, March 2017.