Publishers have expressed a desire for a Facebook-funded scheme which created around 80 journalism jobs to continue beyond its initial two-year term.

A report looking at the Community News Project has found companies involved want to retain journalists recruited as a result of the project, which aims to cover under-represented communities across the UK.

The report by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, which is administering the scheme, has also caused participating publishers to reflect on the “nature of journalism in their publications and the way that they manage other staff within their businesses”.

Nine regional news publishers – Archant, Baylis Media, Barnsley Chronicle, JPIMedia, KM Group, Midland News Association, Newbury Weekly News, Newsquest and Reach plc – are involved in the scheme.

Journalists recruited by the scheme in training

A report of the study’s findings has been published by the NCTJ after research into the scheme was conducted by Mark Spilsbury.

Looking at the scheme’s future, Mark wrote: “As the programme is half way through the two years, it is perhaps not surprising that thoughts are turning to what happens at the end of the two years.

“Given the generally positive views of the CNJs’ (community news journalists’) performance, it is not surprising that, if possible, publishers will want the CNJs to remain with the company.

“However, despite these positive intentions, the economic circumstances facing the publishers are challenging, and have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“There were a number of comments about the design of the scheme and how this would impact on the retention of the CNJs, specifically relating to the possibility (in the event of an extension of the programme) of having to hire a new cohort of journalists and not being able to keep the current CNJs in place.

“But, in any event, the desire is for the scheme to continue. At this stage of the programme there is mainly a need for clarity so that they can start to make suitable plans for the futures of their CNJs.”

Other findings from the report include:

– Publishers have embraced the opportunity to address diversity issues and amended their recruitment processes to do so
– The CNJs are producing good quality content, which is considerably different to that being produced by mainstream journalists
– They have not been moved to new areas because their original communities continue to provide good stories
– They are fitting in well within their newsrooms, demonstrate a low level of turnover

Those studying towards their Diploma in Journalism are performing well in their exams, with a pass rate of 98pcand a ‘gold standard’ rate of 76pc, compared to 71pc for all NCTJ students and trainees.

Discussing the CNJs’ general performance, Mark added: “As with the feedback in the baseline report, general views of the project are positive, with the publishers generally happy about the quality and quantity of content that the CNJs are producing.

“Coronavirus and the resulting lockdown have had an impact for many of the CNJs. The nature of the impact is multi-layered and varies across the publishers.

“For some it increases the importance of what they are trying to do; for some the changes in working patterns seems to have had little impact; and for others (perhaps counter-intuitively), the pandemic may even have led to positive changes in working practices.

“The work of the CNJs has had wider effects within the news organisations involved in the project, leading to a consideration (or perhaps for some a re-consideration) both of the nature of journalism in their publications and the way that they manage other staff within their businesses.”