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Editors fear they can no longer hold power to account, survey finds

Ian Murray 2New research has revealed the vast majority of local newspaper editors are worried their titles now no longer have the resources to hold power to account on their patches.

A study carried out by Index on Censorship magazine, in conjunction with the Society of Editors, has found the overwhelming majority of news chiefs are concerned about their ability to ensure local politicians are held accountable for their actions.

The results have prompted SoE executive director Ian Murray to encourage the industry to move “away from clickbait” and “back towards serious journalism” in order to give the industry a future.

Of the 45 SoE members polled in the survey, 97pc told the study they were worried that local papers did not now have the resources to hold power to account in the way they did in the past.

Among the survey’s other findings were:

  • Almost half of local editors said they felt there was at least 50pc less local news being reported in their area now, compared to 10 years ago.
  • More than two thirds of those surveyed said they believe the public know less about what is going on in areas where local newspapers have closed down.
  • Asked about their biggest fear for the future of local news, around 50pc of respondents said it was that no-one would be “doing the difficult stories” in the future, 43pc that the public’s right to know would disappear, while a small number worried that that local news outlets would just end up covering light, fun stories.
  • More than half of respondents said their title covered crown and magistrates court cases at least once a week, although almost 20pc admitted they “hardly ever” did.

The figures have been revealed in a piece for The Independent written by Index on Censorship editor Rachael Jolley, while a special report examining the state of local news appeared in the latest edition of the magazine.

Mike Sassi, editor of the Nottingham Post, told Index: “There’s no doubt that local decision-makers aren’t subject to the level of scrutiny they once were. There are large numbers of councils right across the country – making big decisions involving millions of pounds of public money – who may never see a local reporter.

“Many local authorities will be operating in the knowledge that no one will ever ask them an awkward question. Which, obviously enough, does nothing to help build trust in local democracy.

Added Mike: “Just because it’s hard to persuade local audiences to read about what their elected representatives are doing in their name, local publishers haven’t given up. Most – including the Nottingham Post – still believe that it’s part of their job to take the issues that are important for local people (and for local democracy) and to find ways of making these issues interesting and readable.

“Certainly, Nottingham’s local democracy reporter Kit Sandeman – who is based in our newsroom – has been able to go to many of the council meetings that we’d previously had to drop. He religiously works his way through agendas, builds old-style relationships with local politicians and turns up important stories that may never have come to light.”

Society of Editors executive director Ian Murray, pictured, was also interviewed about the survey’s findings for the publication’s regular podcast, and was asked what could be done to give local journalism a future.

Highlighting the success of the industry’s local democracy reporting scheme with the BBC, Ian said: “Something similar could be done with courts, we could have more of that kind of thing. But basically grant funding, shall we say, like that, is not the only answer that’s there.

“I think the industry itself can perhaps move a little bit away from clickbait and a little bit more back towards the serious journalism that’s basically going on there. That, I think, is the way that you win your readers round.”

Discussing the report’s findings, Ian told HTFP: “I believe many local and regional newspapers have a long a vibrant future ahead of them. But there is a need to remind communities constantly of the role their papers play in their lives for good and the inherent dangers if the local media were to vanish for local democracy, local justice and community life.”

Rachael added: “Big ideas are needed. Democracy loses if local news disappears. Sadly, those long-held checks and balances are fracturing, and there are few replacements on the horizon. Proper journalism cannot be replaced by people tweeting their opinions and the occasional photo of a squirrel, no matter how amusing the squirrel might be.

“If no local reporters are left living and working in these communities, are they really going to care about those places? News will go unreported; stories will not be told; people will not know what has happened in their towns and communities.”

3 comments

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  • April 8, 2019 at 9:40 am
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    Too few reporters. And too few readers for newspapers to have any meaningful influence. Not good for democracy.

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  • April 8, 2019 at 10:14 am
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    And what few reporters they have can’t even do a proper job and pick up the phone, simply rewrite press releases or web comments. Still waiting for Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star to write the real story on Sheffield’s Mi Amigo scandal. Check out https://wp.me/p5wFIX-19H

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