Ministers have been warned that local journalism will struggle to survive without new support and fresh thinking from the Government. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has found that while some small publishers have adapted to the challenges of declining advertising revenue and the shift to a largely online readership over the last two decades, the future of many papers remains precarious.
Local newspapers have been among those hit hardest by the dramatic changes in the news industry, with many forced to close in recent years. The cross-party committee of MPs has called on the Government to consider making it easier for local news organisations to achieve charitable status, as well as encouraging more philanthropic donations to publishers.
Acting chairman Damian Green said: “The disappearance of local news providers, which have always acted as the eyes and ears of their readers and held local decision-makers to account, has ripped a hole in the heart of many communities. Worryingly it is the most deprived areas of the country that are most likely to miss out on coverage, compounding the disadvantages they already face.”
