For Indie News Week 2025, The Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) created a campaign action to mobilise the public to call for the regeneration of local news to demonstrate to the UK Government that local people care about news and push decision-makers to take action to support indie news providers.
Help us regenerate independent local news by signing the petition launched as part of PINF’s local news crisis campaign.
Big tech greed, corporate takeovers and declining advertising revenues mean that Britain’s independent local news providers – including here in Scotland – are facing a tough battle to get trustworthy information into the hands of communities.
Misinformation is on the rise. In the hardest-hit areas, disinformation is stoking up tension and riots are breaking out. Networks are being manipulated. Convincing, AI-generated deepfakes are fooling even the most sceptical users.
People need reliable information and shared understandings to participate meaningfully in their community. And yet, the local news crisis in the UK has left over 4 million Brits living in news deserts – areas that are entirely without quality local journalism.
No news is bad news. Something needs to change.
Local people deserve reliable information that speaks to them, for them and with them. They need news providers that live in their communities and walk alongside them, that speak truth to power, celebrate local heroes and shine a light on local issues – like our publishing partners supporting and reporting on Scottish communties up and down the country.
Across the UK, a dedicated movement of independent journalists is holding power to account, strengthening pride in place and supporting people to take part in their communities.
PINF have urged that now more than ever, local news outlets need their support. We, and other news outlets like us, are fighting to keep local news alive.
Politicians need to step up to the challenge of regenerating local news, so that indie and local news providers can continue getting information to the people who need it most for generations to come.
That’s why the Local News commission, supported by PINF, has come up with a plan to solve the local news crisis by 2035 by calling on the government to support six recommendations:
- A Local News Stimulation Fund of £15m for the next 10 years to help local news make the digital transition
- Incentives for philanthropists, big tech and members of the public to support local news
- A workforce plan to ensure that journalists are drawn from all backgrounds and equipped to serve their communities
- A fair deal for local news providers using the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act to level the playing field with big tech
- A new deal between local government and local news in which local communities are informed and empowered
- A new relationship between the BBC and local news at Charter Renewal in 2027 building on the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
- Sign PINF’s petition to call on the government to ensure a bright future for local news for generations to come
As part of Indie News Week 2025 some of our publishing partners are hosting events celebrating independent community-based local news in their local communities. You can find out who’s participating via this list. To find an event near you, click here.
