The future of local news was discussed in Parliament this month as the White Horse News attended a national briefing on the growing crisis facing the sector.
The event was hosted by the Public Interest News Foundation in partnership with the Media All-Party Parliamentary Group and brought together MPs from across the political spectrum, including Westbury MP Andrew Murrison, to hear about the urgent need to support trusted local news.
The briefing heard that increasing areas of the UK are being designated as ‘news deserts’, where no reliable local news provision is available.
Joe McCann from the White Horse News said, “Across the country many local newspapers have closed, leaving communities without a trusted source of local news.
“In Wiltshire we are fortunate to still have independent, locally owned newspapers serving their communities, including the Warminster Journal, White Horse News and Melksham News, all part of family-owned Wiltshire Publications.
“Local journalism plays an important role in promoting democracy and encouraging people to engage with what is happening in their communities. People want reliable local news that is produced professionally by people who understand the area.
“But it is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller independent publishers to operate, which is why it was good to be able to raise awareness with MPs about the importance of local news, challenges facing the sector and the broader news landscape across the UK.”
Andrew Murrison MP said, “Great to meet Joe from White Horse News and the Warminster Journal in Parliament yesterday. Keen to help support our local news.”
Research by the Public Interest News Foundation shows that around 4.4 million people in the UK live in areas without consistent access to independent local journalism. In many other places, coverage is provided mainly by large regional outlets rather than locally based news organisations focused on individual communities.
Pictured above: Joe McCann, third left, with other publishers and members of the PINF. Below: Joe McCann with Andrew Murrison MP
