Journalism today is at a crossroads.
Old models based on commercial advertising are no longer viable in today’s digital age. News publishers compete with sophisticated algorithms for the attention of their audiences. Polarising rhetoric dominates the conversation, driving wedges into communities. ‘News deserts’ expand as local titles dissolve or get swallowed up by media conglomerates. All but one of Scotland’s national newspapers are owned by companies based in other countries. The gulf between the people who produce the news and those who consume it is growing.
But journalism is a core component of any functioning democracy. Locally-produced public interest journalism is needed more than ever.
As an industry, we need to rebuild trust in the media. The only way to achieve this is through actually listening to our audiences. We need to work to create a more diverse media that is more representative of the communities it serves. We need to break down the barriers, tear up the rule books and find a more inclusive way of doing journalism. We need to do better.
That’s we we launched The Scottish Beacon as the UK’s first collaborative local news project. Now featuring 24 partners based across Scotland, we aim to strengthen genuinely local new publications, and amplify the stories coming from Scotland’s communities.
So we’re pleased to announce the a special one day event exploring this topic…
About the event
Date: Friday 7 June
Time: 9:30am – 4pm
Location: Grassmarket Community Project, Edinburgh
Tickets: £5-30 Get yours here
Come join us for a lively discussion on the future of local journalism in Scotland! This event will bring together journalists, community members, and industry experts to explore the challenges and opportunities facing local news outlets. From the rise of digital media to the impact of social media, we’ll delve into how journalism is evolving Scotland’s communities.
About ‘No News is Bad News’
The ‘No News is Bad News’ campaign from the Public Interest News Foundation is founded on the belief that a well-informed community is more able to act together to shape its own future, that local news is fundamental to a healthy democratic society and invaluable in helping to create strong communities.
Despite this, independent community news providers are struggling to generate enough revenue to carry out their invaluable work, putting local democracy, civic engagement, and community cohesion at risk.
Indie News Week aims to combat this by allowing community members to directly engage with local news outlets to better understand their contributions. This week-long celebration of independent news outlets will consist of a range of activities organised within communities across the UK.
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson MSP is unable to attend but stated that:
“The Scottish Government recognises the important role that public interest journalism plays at both the local and national level and we welcome the ongoing work of projects such as Greater Govanhill community magazine, The Community Newsroom local media hub in Glasgow and The Scottish Beacon. Alongside events such as Indie News Week, they underline the importance of a free and democratic press and the positive impact that public interest journalism plays in our communities.”
Schedule
Buy your ticket here
If you want to come, but the ticket is price is a barrier for you, please email hello@scottishbeacon.com to access one of our solidarity tickets.
If you can’t come, but want to support our work, you can also become a member of The Scottish Beacon with a regular monthly donation, you can do so here: https://members.scottishbeacon.com/join
With thanks to our sponsors: Women in Journalism Scotland, the Corra Foundation, Local Storytelling Exchange. If you’re interested in sponsorship options, please email rhiannon@scottishbeacon.com to discuss packages.
We’re pleased to offer three workshops available for a limited number of people. Book your spaces here.
