Government launches £12m fund to support local news outlets

The UK government has announced a new funding package designed to sustain local journalism across England and Wales.

The initiative centers on a Local News Fund that will distribute up to £12 million over a two-year period. This financial support is part of a wider Local Media Action Plan intended to strengthen the industry and ensure communities retain access to trusted reporting.

According to government data, the current market dynamics are creating unequal access to local news. While 95% of adults consume local news, 37 local authority districts lack a dedicated outlet. This leaves approximately 4.4 million people in what the government describes as local news deserts, a gap that is most pronounced in some of the country's most deprived urban communities.

The funding structure includes specific allocations for different types of projects. This year, local newspapers, websites, and independent television and radio stations can bid for up to £125,000. These grants are intended for investments in new technology, multimedia journalism, strategies to reach younger audiences, and new revenue models.

An additional pool of up to £275,000 is available for projects that strengthen the wider industry. In the second year of the plan, £1 million will be allocated to communities to reintroduce local journalism where it has disappeared. This may involve reviving a dormant title, expanding a neighboring publication, or establishing a community-owned outlet.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, outlined the rationale for the fund in a statement supporting the Journalism Matters campaign. He argued that too much power has flowed toward Westminster and away from local areas. Burnham stated that the government is working to return power and resources to the hands of communities to give them a larger say in decisions that shape their areas.

Burnham emphasized the role of local reporters in maintaining accountability. He noted that these journalists sit in council chambers, courts, and planning meetings to ask necessary questions and shine a light on decisions made in people's names. He cited the Manchester Evening News campaign for free bus travel for homeless children in temporary accommodation as an example of how local journalism can drive change by bringing people together.

The mayor also referenced the role of local media in challenging misinformation during times of community vulnerability. He pointed to events in Southport and Belfast, where trusted reporters worked to separate fact from fiction online. Burnham described journalism as part of the national infrastructure of a healthy country and democracy, rather than a luxury.

The government stated that devolution requires more than simply moving power from one set of politicians to another. It requires giving people a greater voice, which depends on their access to information about actions taken in their name. The Local News Fund is designed to support journalists who expose wrongdoing, challenge misinformation, and champion their communities.

The first round of bids for the £125,000 individual grants is open to outlets in England and Wales this year. The £1 million fund for community-led initiatives will become available in the second year of the two-year plan.