Policy Briefing on Journalism's Funding and Workplace Issues in the UK Published
The final briefing based on the Media Influence Matrix: UK report by the Media Reform Coalition focuses on workplace and funding issues public interest journalism faces in the UK.
Written by Eliz Mizon, analyzing the economic dynamics of the UK’s commercial news industry, the briefing outlines why a large number of newsrooms are struggling to deliver public interest journalism and maintain sustainable, secure jobs.
Drawing on the Media Influence Matrix research and MRC's Manifesto for a People’s Media, the briefing finds
- Public interest journalism in the UK is nearing “total collapse”
- Frontline reporters, particularly at local media, earn very little while executives and shareholders earn huge sums
- Rather than returning to the commercial business model, alternative funding options are being explored
- Newsroom unions are doing important work but have struggled to address wider industrial issues
[A] very small number of wealthy businessmen now own the vast majority of the UK’s local media industry, and in prioritising profits over public good, has stripped it of its most crucial functions: to provide meaningful plurality and to support democracy throughout the country.
The briefing concludes with action points on how to revitalise public interest journalism.
This is the final briefing in our series. The first policy briefing in the series covered the most important current debates in UK media policy; the second one addressed the issue of the BBC licence fee; the third one focued on the Online Safety Bill; the fourth one analyzed the UK government's recent White paper on broadcasting.
The collection of articles and policy briefings based on the UK Media Influence Matrix Report, as well as the report's chapters and more information about the project can be found here.
