Hyperlocal publishers have accused bigger news groups of “stealing their content” amid calls for greater collaboration between the two sectors.
Small independents say their content is sometimes being used “word for word” on websites owned by the big publishing groups – but with no accreditation.
The comments came from Emma Meese, director of the Independent Community News Network which represents hyperlocal publishers, speaking at a gathering of digital journalism leaders in Wolverhampton yesterday
Emma, left, was giving feedback on the issue of whether there could be greater collaboration between the two sectors at the Behind Local News conference in Wolverhampton.
“Some of what I’m going to say is not particularly pretty,” she told the conference, before going on to read out a series of comments from ICNN members.
“Information we publish is regularly picked-up and repeated word for word,” said one hyperlocal publisher.
Said another: “I believe my site is frequently used as a news source but nothing has ever been attributed.”
And one added: “The general vibe I get is that they look down on us…if they think they are the Premier League and we are the parks team it’s not going to work.”
Added Emma: “For a lot of people in our sector their content is being stolen. A lot of them used to work in the industry and have lost their jobs.
“They’ve had their fingers burned and they are a bit apprehensive about entering into further collaborations.”
However Emma herself remained keen to explore the possibilities for “collaborative journalism” which she said was more established in the US than in the UK.
She said hyperlocal and mainstream publishers were usually “working towards a shared journalistic goal” including tackling the democratic deficit in their areas.
Jame Haynes, a former Shropshire Star, Nottingham Post and South Wales Evening Post journalist who now runs hyperlocal website Wyrelife, challenged publishers saying: “You could ignore us, you could actively try to kill us off, or you could work with us.
“There will be some who will be happy to have a two-way collaboration with you,” but she added: “Money almost certainly will have to change hands.”
In response, Alison Gow, digital editor in chief at Reach plc, said Emma’s comments “do not make me feel great… I can relate completely to people who are finding that being done to them.”
She called on delegates to “find a way where we can work with respect and collaboration on both sides.”
Alison cited an existing example of collaboration in Leeds whereby a hyperlocal magazine The City Talking is distributed with the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Western Gazette editor Emma Slee described an arrangement with a hyperlocal website in Crewkerne in which she pays for content which is then used to fill the Gazette’s Crewkerne print edition, although the content is rarely used on companion website Somerset Live.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
Well said, Emma.
In the hyperlocals, I see determined, community minded, adaptable and forward thinking people … in the regionals, at the highest level, I see desperation for clicks.
Is it not time we began to celebrate these pioneers a bit more. It’s noticeable that most of the awards schemes have nothing for them.
This MAY be the future – sustainable and relevant.
My only word of caution would be to the hyperlocals – would you really want to get into bed with some of the regionals?
Report this comment
Excellent thank you Emma
And ‘once a sub’ absolutely right!
3 years ago we would have embraced collaborations with regionals – now? Frankly there’s nothing they could teach us, nothing they could help with. It’s always been a one-way street – credits promised, not given without a fight – accusations – begging for images – can we this can we that. If we all carry on working together like this through ICNN, there’s a chance that we’ll be the ones making the difference. We’re already fast, agile and often first to new digital tools and content – some of us for nothing, others for revenue – a few make a living. We need this voice via ICNN because we’re so diverse, we’re honest, genuine and in our communities, keep shouting…
Report this comment
My first though was why would thriving local independent publishers want to cosy up to the ailing bigger groups who have nothing to offer yet everything they covet; an audience, real hyper local journalism, well written quality content ,motivated staff,local business support and credibility within the community ,to gain?
Hold firm you new publishers, if you weren’t doing all the right things and making a success of your business the others wouldnt want to know.
And yes the sooner new independent publishers and their papers are recognised with their own awards the better.
Report this comment
Spot on. Hyperlocals are going to win this war. Yes the lazy, greedy publishers are stealing their content word for word because they are employing kids off the street, cheap labour, but no-one to guide them and train them in the craft. And now, the contempt they have always had for their readers is coming back to bite them. All the good people they ditched for cost and ageism are out there now using all those skills that money can’t buy. They are deluding themselves, over promoting inexperienced people, singing their praises and setting them up for a mighty fall. Readers are not stupid, they know what they want and they are embracing hyperlocals because it isn’t rocket science, they want news not clickbait. Advertisers won’t keep buying into something no-one reads.
Report this comment
I have had my work nicked by a big boy and when pointed out had a two fingered reply. It’s just not on
Report this comment
The big boy players would have no coverage of many places without taking from hyperlocal.
It is galling when you see one of your photographs used to cover virtually the whole of the front page of a local newspaper – used without credit.
That’s why hyperlocals are right to be wary.
Report this comment
It’s not just editorial content and images the bigger groups have ripped off the smaller independent papers and magazines, fawningly calling to get the artwork for an advert their reps have sold on the cheap into their local paper having seen it first in the small local title!
Yet when a business person asks the bigger group to send the artwork they’ve paid for to the smaller one they drag their heels usually until just past the deadline for the hyper local, I guess it’s what you resort to when you’ve outsourced your ad pro to Asia and you’re chasing shadows.
Dirty tricks and desperate measures are rife and with the management suits are turning blind eyes
Keep independent guys, you’ve got them on the ropes
Report this comment