A university is set to hold the largest ever gathering of hyperlocal journalists in the UK next month.

Up to 150 journalists are set to attend a conference at Cardiff University, where a trade body set up for hyperlocal and community publishers will officially be launched.

The university’s centre for community journalism will host the conference, entitled ‘Building the future of community journalism’, where topics of discussion will include empowering mobile storytelling communities, making content pay, why print is far from dead and covering terrorist attacks from a hyperlocal standpoint.

The event will incorporate the official launch of the Independent Community News Network, which was founded in December last year and currently has 70 members.

The launch will take place in the evening at the National Assembly for Wales building.

Centre manager Emma Meese said: “Our conference, and launch of ICNN, are an opportunity to celebrate the many successes of community and hyperlocal publishers across the UK and the future of this thriving sector.

“The decline of traditional print media is having a dramatic effect on the local news landscape, however we are proud of the positive impact that hundreds of small independent publishers are having on communities (across the UK) and are excited to discuss how, by working together, we can build a bright future for community journalism.”

It will be held on Thursday 11 January 2018, and full details of how to book can be found here.