I’ve put out a statement that Better Media welcomes the government’s investment in local news and community radio as a necessary step towards strengthening civic information and public engagement. However, there are concerns that without careful design, funding may reinforce incumbent providers rather than support new and independent entrants. There is also a risk that allocation processes concentrate decision-making power among a limited group of officials. A broader discussion is needed to ensure this investment supports a more open, diverse, and sustainable local media system.
Better Media Welcomes Government Investment in Local News While Calling for Broader Market Reform
Better Media has welcomed the government’s new Action Plan for Local News, including its commitment to invest in local journalism and community radio as part of a renewed focus on place-based communication and civic engagement.
The announcement represents a significant and overdue recognition that local news provision is not simply a commercial activity, but a form of essential civic infrastructure that underpins democratic participation, public trust, and social cohesion. Investment in community radio and support for local journalism are therefore important steps towards stabilising a sector that has faced sustained structural decline.
However, Better Media cautions that the design and implementation of these measures will be critical. There is a clear risk that funding mechanisms may disproportionately benefit established incumbent organisations that have not consistently demonstrated innovation or investment in new forms of public engagement. In such circumstances, public funding risks reinforcing existing market concentration rather than enabling renewal.
There is also concern that, in the absence of transparent and inclusive allocation processes, officials responsible for distributing funds may become de facto gatekeepers of the local media ecosystem. This could limit the diversity of voices and approaches that are essential for a resilient and representative local news landscape.
Dr Rob Watson, Director of Better Media, said:
“The government’s recognition that local news and community radio are vital civic assets is welcome and long overdue. However, we need to be careful that this investment does not simply reinforce the position of incumbent providers who have struggled to adapt to changing patterns of engagement. There is a real risk that funding becomes concentrated in familiar hands, while new and independent voices remain marginal to the system. If this policy is to succeed, it must open the door to a wider range of contributors and support the development of new, self-sustaining models of local media that are rooted in participation, trust, and long-term community value.”
Better Media emphasises that while this investment is a welcome starting point, it should be understood as part of a broader transition. A sustainable future for local news will require new thinking that extends beyond established operators, incorporating independent, community-led, and civic models of media provision. This includes exploring mixed-market approaches that combine public support, community ownership, and innovative revenue models to ensure long-term viability.
Better Media stands ready to work with policymakers, regulators, and sector partners to ensure that this policy framework supports a genuinely open, plural, and future-facing local media system.
For further information, please contact:
Better Media
I’ve posted a blog assessing the local media investment against Foundational principles: