Public Interest News: Securing a Future for Nonprofit Journalism

In his latest article, published on the Hacked Off Blog, CMDS researcher Leo Watkins, discusses how public interest journalism should be funded, by looking at nonprofit models originating in the US and their relevance for the UK media.

The piece argues that:

• As newspaper profitability has declined, "news deserts" have emerged: areas not covered by any professional journalists
• Even in the US, where nonprofit models have been more successful, this emerging sector employs only a fraction of the number of journalists for-profit titles previously employed
• Relying on philanthropy to fund the future journalism allows newspapers' priorities to be shaped by the very wealthy – curbing the prospect of the media covering more radical perspectives
• The Government has refused to entertain serious solutions to the funding crisis in the media – because none of those which are workable suit the agenda of the most powerful publishers
• Initiatives taken up by the independent media sector are insufficient
• The solution – which the Government should take steps to bring into effect – is state funding support for the media, with the public given a direct say in how it is allocate

This research is part of the UK component of the Center for Media, Data and Society’s Media Influence Matrix, set up to investigate the influence of shifts in policy, funding, and technology on contemporary journalism. The UK component is coordinated in partnership with the Media Reform Coalition and Goldsmiths, University of London and is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. It is due to report in Summer 2021.