Recommendations & Conclusions
9 items
1
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Acknowledged
Despite the collapse in revenues and the immense challenges facing those titles remaining in the market, there are many encouraging examples of innovation by local news publishers. These demonstrate that, provided the right support is given, the sector can be revived and can have a sustainable future. (Paragraph 24) Support …
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Despite the collapse in revenues and the immense challenges facing those titles remaining in the market, there are many encouraging examples of innovation by local news publishers. These demonstrate that, provided the right support is given, the sector can be revived and can have a sustainable future. (Paragraph 24) Support for local news
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the BBC’s commitment to continue to support the LDRS until at least 2027, and makes clear its support for the scheme. Operational decisions are for the BBC to make.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Acknowledged
The LDRS has had a positive impact on local journalism by enabling important local news stories to get coverage where otherwise they might not. But more could be done to expand the service across different media platforms and to give access to a wider range of news providers. The BBC …
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The LDRS has had a positive impact on local journalism by enabling important local news stories to get coverage where otherwise they might not. But more could be done to expand the service across different media platforms and to give access to a wider range of news providers. The BBC must also ensure that partner news providers use Local Democracy Reporters for their intended purposes. The LDRS should be protected under forthcoming Charter negotiations, and we encourage the BBC to explore ways to widen the scope of the service.
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the BBC's commitment to support the LDRS until at least 2027 and would support efforts by the BBC to grow the scheme, but operational decisions are for the BBC to make.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Acknowledged
The Government’s response to the Cairncross Review recommendation to set up an innovation fund for public interest news was welcome. But the Future News Pilot Fund was neither substantial nor long-term enough to make a significant difference, and there has been no follow up. The Government should build upon the …
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The Government’s response to the Cairncross Review recommendation to set up an innovation fund for public interest news was welcome. But the Future News Pilot Fund was neither substantial nor long-term enough to make a significant difference, and there has been no follow up. The Government should build upon the Future News Pilot Fund and create a long-term public interest news fund with a remit to support innovation.
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Government response AI summary
The government continues to explore options for additional fiscal measures to support the sector, while mindful of the current financial climate. Any further funding would build on the model set by the Future News Fund and take into account Nesta’s evaluation, as well as feedback …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
4
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Rejected
Statutory notices in local newspapers remain an important means of keeping the public informed and a vital revenue stream for many local news publishers. But the criteria used by some councils to determine where notices are published appear to be outdated. We recommend that the Government review existing rules and …
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Statutory notices in local newspapers remain an important means of keeping the public informed and a vital revenue stream for many local news publishers. But the criteria used by some councils to determine where notices are published appear to be outdated. We recommend that the Government review existing rules and practices for placing statutory notices in local newspapers and whether local councils need guidance on how to measure the reach and audience levels of news publications in a digital age. This should include an assessment of how the revenue stream from statutory notices can be made more easily accessible for new entrants to the local news market. The Government should set out the progress of this review in its response to this report.
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Government response AI summary
The government does not intend to conduct a review of rules and practices for placing statutory notices in local newspapers, but is aware of concerns about the audience reach of these notices and the desire for greater digitalisation. The government is monitoring the progress of …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
5
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Acknowledged
We recognise that consolidation within the local news industry has ensured the survival of titles that otherwise would have closed. But we are concerned that some of the approaches of the largest publishers appear to be compromising the quality the local journalism produced by their titles. We are also concerned …
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We recognise that consolidation within the local news industry has ensured the survival of titles that otherwise would have closed. But we are concerned that some of the approaches of the largest publishers appear to be compromising the quality the local journalism produced by their titles. We are also concerned that the largest publishers take a disproportionate share of the support available for local journalism, to the detriment of smaller publishers and those entering the market. This may be stifling much needed innovation that could benefit the sector as a whole. We recommend that the Government conducts an audit of public money that supports the local news sector. This should be followed by an analysis of whether this money can be more fairly distributed and better used to promote innovation. We also recommend that the Government considers ways to facilitate improved engagement 38 Sustainability of local journalism between smaller local news publishers and private organisations providing support for local journalism. The Government should provide an update on the progress of this work in its response to this report.
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Government response AI summary
The government discussed the Committee’s recommendation with the Charity Commission and notes that there is limited evidence of widespread appetite among publishers for seeking charitable status. The Charity Commission will continue to monitor this area in line with its usual approach to issues and take …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
6
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Accepted
Access to more philanthropic funding could help ensure the sustainability of the local news sector. Many, though not all, local news publishers would benefit from charitable status, but this is currently very difficult for news organisations to achieve. We recommend that the Government, in its response to us, indicates what …
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Access to more philanthropic funding could help ensure the sustainability of the local news sector. Many, though not all, local news publishers would benefit from charitable status, but this is currently very difficult for news organisations to achieve. We recommend that the Government, in its response to us, indicates what options it might consider to make it easier for local news organisations to achieve charitable status. We also recommend that the Government assess ways to encourage more philanthropic donations to local news publishers for whom charitable status would not be appropriate. (Paragraph 62) Local Television and Radio
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the Review’s conclusions as to the vital local service that the community radio sector provides, and are committed to supporting its continued growth. Uplifts have been applied to the Community Radio Fund in each of the last three financial years.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
7
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Deferred
We welcome the Government’s indication that there will be support for local TV in the forthcoming Media Bill and are glad that provisions concerning radio now also look to be included. We also welcome the Minister’s indication that the Community Radio Fund (CRF) will be increased to reflect the growth …
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We welcome the Government’s indication that there will be support for local TV in the forthcoming Media Bill and are glad that provisions concerning radio now also look to be included. We also welcome the Minister’s indication that the Community Radio Fund (CRF) will be increased to reflect the growth of the sector. We recommend that the Government should explore how the expanded CRF, as well as other existing journalism support schemes, could be used to help community radio conduct more local journalism.
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Government response AI summary
While the government agrees on the vital local service that community radio provides, the wider economic context did not provide scope for an increase to the Community Radio Fund in the most recent Spending Review, but this will be considered in future discussions.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
8
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Acknowledged
We echo the concern expressed by colleagues across the House and beyond about the BBC’s proposed changes to local radio provision. Sharing content across larger areas and regions risks undermining the sense of localness that has, until now, made BBC local radio distinct. The BBC’s plans to direct more resources …
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We echo the concern expressed by colleagues across the House and beyond about the BBC’s proposed changes to local radio provision. Sharing content across larger areas and regions risks undermining the sense of localness that has, until now, made BBC local radio distinct. The BBC’s plans to direct more resources to its online local news services may risk harming commercial news publishers, whose sustainability is already precarious. While we recognise that the latest license fee settlement is difficult for the BBC, we do not consider that the strategy for digital first should come at the expense of local radio and recommend that the Corporation reconsiders its plans.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concerns and states they will continue to explore ways for the BBC to best serve its audiences as part of a collective where appropriate, but does not commit to reconsidering the BBC's plans.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
9
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Sustainability of loca…
Acknowledged
We are glad that the Government appears to be expediting the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, which will be vital to redressing the unbalanced relationship between the large digital platforms and local news publishers (among many others). It is important that any code of conduct and …
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We are glad that the Government appears to be expediting the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, which will be vital to redressing the unbalanced relationship between the large digital platforms and local news publishers (among many others). It is important that any code of conduct and collective bargaining mechanisms provided for by the bill do not lead to the exclusion of smaller news publishers. We recommend that clear and explicit provisions for ensuring smaller publishers are fairly remunerated be included in the Government’s new pro-competition regime. (Paragraph 81) Sustainability of local journalism 39
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Government response AI summary
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 25 April 2023, giving new powers to the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) in the CMA to help rebalance the relationship between major platforms and the consumers and businesses who rely on them, …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport