A body set up to help public interest news has been awarded charitable status in line with recommendations made by the Cairncross Review.

The Charity Commission has awarded charitable status to the Public Interest News Foundation, an independent body backed by press watchdog Impress.

PINF says the move will allow it to “support public interest publishers with grants, training and resources”.

The 2019 review into the future of news by Dame Frances Cairncross recommended that journalism should be recognised as a charitable purpose.

Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director of PINF, said: “Journalism is changing. Independent news providers are springing up all over the UK.

“They are serving communities with impartial journalism in the public interest. But they face huge challenges.

“This decision means we can ensure the public have access to high-quality, independent news, by supporting public interest publishers with grants, training and resources.

“We have already awarded emergency grants to publishers who were struggling during lockdown, and now we can support more public interest news organisations across the UK.”