Local news for local people

There are more than 1,000 local media titles in the UK read by 42 million adults. Trust in these publications is high – according to a YouGov study, they’re the most trusted source for local news and information, making them a vital part of the UK’s media landscape.

But stories of local newspapers closing down are all too common – at least 228 since 2005 – and industry cuts continue to create a challenging environment for local journalists.

With less time and money but more people and stories to cover – how can these local journalists continue to create quality, trusted content?

Luckily, there are some tools to help:

The Bureau Local
A collaborative investigative network connecting the dots at both local and national level. Allows local newsrooms to access broader and deeper levels of information. The network works across roles – from reporters to designers – and industry lines. While outlets may usually be competitors, The Bureau Local is all about collaboration to unveil the truth.

Find out more.

RADAR from the Press Association
Standing for ‘Reporters And DAta Robots’, the RADAR news service uses – you guessed it – both reporters and robots to produce stories tailored for individual areas. The stories are eight or nine paragraphs long and cover every local area included in specific data sets. The service produces 300-400 versions of each story that can be used by journalists either as is, or as a base for their own content.

Find out more.

Journalist Enquiry Service
The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service allows journalists to send free enquiries to PR professionals and businesses asking for expert comment, interviews, case studies and materials. Local journalists can save hours of research and sourcing quotes by sending one enquiry asking for assistance. The PRs and organisations benefit from coverage in their targeted location, and journalists get the material they need to complete their stories.

Find out more here.

Work in PR? Thanks to our recent acquisition of ResponseSource, we can now offer you the chance to receive requests from the Journalist Enquiry Service.