Exeter Observer - An antidote to traditional local media models

Independent

Exeter Observer is editorially and financially independent:

no media barons or shady investors
no advertorial, rehashed press releases or clickbait churnalism
no party political allegiances or party political broadcasts
no invasions of privacy or profit-driven commercial agenda
no relentlessly uncritical cheerleading.

Engaged

Exeter Observer is rooted in community interest:

all that is important (and nothing that is not) for people who live or work in Exeter
what’s being done in their name, by whom, with their public assets and money
free journalism training courses to enable community contributors
stories that amplify local voices and inspire action for change.

Responsive

Exeter Observer delivers content with real relevance:

challenging established narratives by presenting and evidencing progressive ideas
offering wider context for stakeholders to explore common interest issues from multiple perspectives.

Transparent

Exeter Observer informs and empowers its readers:

identifying policy- and decision-making bodies and explaining their roles
clarifying spatial contexts and the democratic representation that goes with them
providing a repository of research resources including key policy documents
publishing a guide to key people and organisations.

Ethical

Exeter Observer observes industry best-practice principles:

stories are fair, balanced and non-exploitative
case studies are responsibly sourced
right to reply is respected
information is verified
sources are protected
mistakes are publicly acknowledged and corrected.

Accountable

Exeter Observer is fully regulated:

as a CIC we must pass a community interest test and submit an annual report
as a registered data controller we are subject to the ICO’s complaints procedure
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 will maintain our editorial independence and high professional standards via adherence to the NUJ Code of Conduct.

Public interest

Exeter Observer aims to strengthen civil society and help people participate more effectively in local democracy by:

increasing public understanding of complex systems and policy- and decision-making processes
making pertinent information more widely accessible
stimulating more inclusive and better-informed deliberation and debate.

Community journalism

Exeter Observer is enabled by people who share our mission:

owned and managed, researched and written, designed and laid out, promoted and distributed by Exeter residents.

Join us

One disruptive startup Exeter can’t do without

Exeter is positioning itself as a global leader in sustainable living, but many obstacles to becoming a world-class environmental exemplar remain. If reality is to match rhetoric, significant local challenges must be met.

Attempts to deal with such problems are hampered by the way public policy is determined and delivered. Meanwhile other powerful yet unaccountable organisations and actors also significantly influence decision-making which affects us all.

Good quality local news coverage can help address these issues by providing accurate, relevant, timely information about who is deciding what on whose behalf and how the bill for these decisions will be paid.

However, the capacity of the press to perform these essential public interest tasks has been eroded and the editorial independence of existing local media is at risk.

Exeter Observer is part of an agile, innovative local news sector that has emerged in response to these systemic challenges to deliver independent community journalism with public interest at its heart.

Our vision

Help deliver the independent public interest community journalism Exeter needs

Exeter Observer is looking for occasional and regular contributors to help create and deliver our content.

We are also seeking compelling stories about issues affecting the public interest in Exeter and beyond.

Our capacity to scrutinise, investigate and report depends on having the resources to effectively interrogate information, arguments and the people who put them forward.

You can help sustain our research and writing about the issues that matter and ensure community interest journalism remains a public good which benefits everyone.

Support us

Exeter Observer is published by Greater Exeter CIC, a non-profit community interest company limited by guarantee, registration number 10711812.

East Devon Independent Claire Wright set to unite Remain voters in close historic two-way contest

Claire Wright is poised to make history by beating the Tories in East Devon next week. If she does it will be without thanks to the LibDems and Greens, who insisted on standing candidates against her despite the preferences of local party members and the Unite to Remain campaign.

Striking University of Exeter history lecturers Dr Jennifer Farrell and Dr Gemma Clark

News / Education & skills

University of Exeter staff strike over pay, pensions and working conditions

The Exeter branch of the University & College Union (UCU) is taking part in a national eight day strike for fair pay and pensions, including equal pay for female and BAME staff, and against casualisation and increasing workloads.