NUJ welcomes £6 million government funding for local news
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced that 50 local news providers will receive grants of up to £125,000 through the Local News Fund.
Funding recipients include hyperlocal titles, community radio stations, and independent publications across England and Wales - such as Stand Up for Stockport, Coast Community Radio, and the Bristol Cable. The projects funded aim to support various initiatives, including the hiring of additional reporters, extension of local coverage, hyperlocal advertising, and investment in new technology.
Launched in July as part of the government’s Local Media Strategy, the NUJ welcomed the Local News Fund as “recognition that the industry cannot be left to the vagaries of the market.” Government funding to support investment in public interest journalism through the establishment of a Journalist Foundation is a key call in the NUJ’s News Recovery Plan, which outlines a series of practical measures to deliver an economic boost for news and revitalise the industry
The funding comes at a time of crisis for the sector with the continued closure of local titles and mass job losses, with the UK and Ireland’s largest commercial publisher Reach announcing another 160 redundancies in September.
"I am determined not to leave local journalism to collapse. This government knows it is critical to communities and fosters a self-confident nation that everyone feels part of," said Ian Murray, UK media minister. “Through the Local News Fund we are taking action to help newsrooms innovate and adapt their business models for the online world, while incentivising and encouraging the production of high-quality, trustworthy news that Britain’s towns and villages deserve and rely on."
An additional seven organisations will receive up to £275,000 “to develop infrastructure for the benefit of the entire local media sector.” For example, the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) has been awarded £190,000 for a project involving research and resources on industry standards for using artificial intelligence (AI).
DCMS reported that the Fund attracted 214 applications worth £22.5m, noting that “many unsuccessful applications were of a very high quality, illustrating the capacity for innovation and the level of demand for this type of support in this vital industry.”
Applications were assessed by the Local News Fund Steering Board, and required an established track record of providing local news in England or Wales. A further £1 million will be distributed next year to tackle local news deserts, with evidence suggesting that 4.4 million in 37 local authority districts have no dedicated source of local news. The government has said that a further £5 million will be available to local news outlets in 2027 “subject to availability”.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
“The NUJ warmly welcomes the government taking active steps to support local journalism. The union has long campaigned for government grants to preserve the sector so it is positive to see funding for a range of hyperlocal, community and independent outlets for various projects – many of which aim to support jobs, greater local coverage and public interest journalism. We note that other projects focus on ‘responsible’ uses of AI in newsrooms, and the union will monitor the use and impact of these grants in consultation with members.
“This intervention is an acknowledgment that the local news industry is too important to be allowed to fail. Local news plays an essential role in our democracy by keeping communities informed, countering the spread of misinformation, and holding power at local level to account - a role that comes into particular focus as the UK government pursues its devolution agenda.
“While we’re excited to see what difference the funding makes, many of our members remain deeply worried about their livelihoods and the state of the industry. The level of interest in the Fund demonstrates just how much the sector has been crying out for support.
“We urge the UK government to commit more resources to combat redundancies, the closure of local titles, and growing fears around AI. The NUJ has called or a 6% windfall tax on tech giants. This would generate significant funds to be reinvested in the sector to protect jobs and public access to quality news. The government has made a promising start through the Local News Fund, and we hope to see further action and investment to really turn the tide.”