Local news reporting goes long distance

As if falling circulations, plummeting advertising revenues and editorial cut-backs weren’t causing local newspaper publishers big enough headaches, the news that 86 magistrate courts (prime local news hunting grounds) are facing the axe, comes as yet another blow.

These closures force local newspapers to make some difficult decisions.

Do they:

1. Travel greater distances (wasting time and incurring extra costs) to cover local news stories.
2. Hire freelance journalists who lack local knowledge and might not understand the impact a case might have on a local community.
3. Look elsewhere for their news.

The police and crime commission for the Tames Valley, Anthony Stansfield, is in no doubt how court closures will impact on local newspapers, telling journalists  that local newspapers would “not turn up” to hearings held away from their patch.

New opportunities – local news goes national

But it’s not all bad news for local journalists this week, with some eyeing up opportunities to take their local news to a national audience.

The Johnson Press’s recent addition of The i newspaper to its stable of more than 170 mainly regional titles could give local reporting a much wider voice.

The nationals have long sucked up stories generated by the regional press, giving local journalists very little in terms of recognition (and certainly no by-line).  But now journalists from titles like The Buchan Observer (in Peterhead) or The Horncastle News (in Lincolnshire) now have a direct connection to a thriving national title.

Jeremy Clifford, editor-in-chief of Johnson Press, told his team: “There is a huge opportunity in front of us to combine their expertise with that of the 900 journalists in Johnston Press and their knowledge across our portfolio to really provide our readers with effective and relevant content at a national level.”

As one door closes (or becomes less accessible), another opens for the nations local news teams. One thing’s for sure, in local newspapers change is the only constant.