Around 100 regional journalism jobs are set to disappear by the end of 2024 after Facebook owner Meta pulled its funding for UK local newsrooms.

Meta has confirmed it will no longer fund the Community News Project, which has paid for the training and employment of more than 260 regional journalists since its launch in 2018 through a total $17m of funding.

Reporters employed as part of the project will have their existing contracts honoured, although those currently studying towards their preliminary journalism qualifications will not be subsequently funded to go on and complete their senior qualifications.

In a double blow for the industry, Meta has further revealed it is withdrawing the Facebook News Tab, which led to the social media giant paying participating publishers for their content in a move HTFP understands was worth seven-figure sums annually to many of the groups involved.

The tab will cease to be available in the UK, as well as France and Germany, from early December.

Changes in the Facebook news algorithm have already been blamed for loss of revenue – and subsequent job cutbacks – by one leading regional publisher and the latest developments seem likely to lead to more of the same.

Criticising the move, Newsquest chief executive Henry Faure Walker, pictured, said: “This is a cynical move from a company that takes billions of pounds from the UK advertising market and built their Facebook platform in part by free riding the quality content that news publishers provide.

“I’m not surprised by their behaviour but it’s disappointing that Meta is retreating back to their ivory tower leaving brilliant community journalists out in the cold.”

The Community News Project was set up with the twin aims of increasing the coverage of underserved communities across the country, as well as recruiting journalists from more diverse backgrounds.

More than 70pc of reporters hired through the CNP have met one or more of the diversity criteria identified at the project’s outset.

Of around 100 reporters currently employed under the scheme, approximately 22 work for Newsquest, 28 for Reach plc, 32 for National World, five for Iliffe News and Media and the remainder for other smaller publishers.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists, which has administered the Community News Project, has said it is “currently exploring ways to secure the project’s legacy and take it forward into the future, in partnership with regional news publishers”.

Chief executive Joanne Forbes said: “This has been an ambitious, ground-breaking project for the last five years and has succeeded in attracting talented people from different backgrounds into journalism careers and supported them with professional training to serve their communities.

“It has been transformative and a privilege for the NCTJ to be involved.

“We recognise the continued importance of the regional news media in training UK journalists and we will do all we can to seek alternative sources of funding to secure the project’s legacy into the future.

“On behalf of everyone at the NCTJ, I’d like to thank Meta for investing in this project for the last five years, and Sarah Brown and her colleagues at Meta, the publishers, trainers and reporters for making the project such a success.”

Sarah Brown, head of news partnerships for Northern Europe at Meta, said: “We are proud of the work achieved through the programme, which through $17m of funding has successfully trained and funded more than 260 journalists in newsrooms across the UK.

“The learnings and experience gained by these journalists are an invaluable legacy for the project and for those who took part.”

News Media Association chief executive, Owen Meredith said:  “We are extremely disappointed to learn of the decision made by Meta today to terminate funding of the Community News Project and Facebook News in the UK.

“The CNP launched in 2018, to much fanfare from Meta (formerly Facebook), with the scheme rightly recognising the importance of local news and how ‘Facebook plays an important role in how people get their news’.

“The collaboration between Meta, NCTJ, and local publishers has since been seen as a welcome injection of cash into frontline reporting, recognising the immense value of trusted, authoritative sources of local news to Facebook audiences.

“Separately, this partnership saw the launch of the dedicated News Tab, which aimed to ensure audiences had access to reliable news and journalism.

“Sadly, this latest decision comes as little surprise, considering the news blackouts we have seen Meta enforcing in Canada and Australia. Meta continues to exploit its dominant position, reaping the benefits of news content on their platforms without adequately compensating the publishers that invest in it.

“This behaviour will continue to deprive the hard-working newsrooms who invest in creating journalism of the recognition and remuneration they sorely deserve – unless we act fast.

“This is why the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, currently before parliament, is so vital. The Bill must reset the balance of power in the online ecosystem and create fair terms, levelling the playing field between platforms and publishers. Parliament should now move swiftly to pass the Bill.

“If Meta truly believes, as they stated just 18 months ago, that ‘local newspapers are the lifeblood of communities’ then they should be acting to support – and not undermine – the sustainability of journalism in the UK. Sadly, as we have seen today, actions speak louder than words.”