A series of events to celebrate the “unsung heroes” of the country’s independent news sector is to take place this week.
Indie News Week has returned for its second annual instalment with more than 30 hyperlocal outlets taking part across the UK.
Among the events planned are a series of open newsroom events at publications including the Barnet Post, the Eastbourne Reporter and Bylines Scotland.
There will also be a quiz night hosted by the West Leeds Despatch, a guided nature walk organised by the Northern Eco, and a symposium on the future of local news in South London following the recent closure of the South London Press.
The week has been organised by the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) and runs from today until Sunday.
It is designed to give local journalists an opportunity to meet their communities, showing them who’s behind their local indie outlet and what goes into accurately covering their stories.
It is also being seen as an opportunity for participating publishers to raise funds for their outlets through donation and membership drives.
To coincide with the week, PINF is launching a petition to push the UK government to do more to regenerate local news in the UK, after a week in which culture secretary Lisa Nandy said she wanted to see local news services for ‘every town, city and village.’
PINF executive director Jonathan Heawood said: “We are thrilled to see activities in all four nations of the UK with 30 participating outlets. Communities will be able to share the stories that matter to them with journalists who are deeply invested in their local area.
“Big tech greed and declining advertising mean that local providers are still having to fight to keep independent news alive. We believe that No News is Bad News.
“Communities deserve healthy news ecosystems that facilitate the free flow of information, speak truth to power and shine a light on important issues.
“Local news providers are meeting this challenge head on, by strengthening democracy, holding power to account, creating pride in place and fostering civic participation.”
