Digital Editors Oct 2009(2)

Tony Johnston Press Association

Public service reporting

“ Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future” Slide “ The best way to predict the future is to invent it” “ The future will be better tomorrow” - Neils Bohr - Alan Kay - Dan Quayle

As the media revolution gathers pace, is there still a place for professional journalism? Slide The question…

We believe the answer is yes…in fact, for a democracy it is vital Slide The question… The problem is the business model is broken

Local newspapers have cut back
Fewer reporters on the ground
Reduced coverage of councils and courts
Local government reporting - 64% have reduced resources
Court reporting – 71% have reduced resources
Slide

Has the level of scrutiny of the work of your principal local authority been reduced by the reduction in attendance at meetings?
Yes – 50%
No – 37%
Slide

Creating a news vacuum in some areas
Local authorities launch newspapers
Who loses?
The public – less well informed
The media – losing touch with their community
The local authorities – “In Essex 74% residents who felt informed were satisfied with the council, a figure which drops to 38% for those who considered they were not.”
Slide

A growing debate
Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger: “We have to face up to the prospect that for the first time since the Enlightenment you are going to have major cities in the UK and western democracies without any source of verifiable news. That hasn't happened for 200 to 300 years. I think it will have very profound implications."
Slide

A growing debate
Something has to be done to fill the news vacuum
Undertook two week trial in Essex
Huge range of content from unattended meetings
Sufficient evidence to move forward
Slide

Three stage project Slide

The pilot unit
Will:
Attend local authorities and other institutions
Provide stories of interest to the local community that cover the democratic process
Complement existing editorial provision
Operate separately from the Press Association
Be editorially independent and adopt the Press Association’s fair and accurate editorial values and principles
Supply digital news generated by the unit free of charge via the web
Slide

Several possible pilot areas under discussion
It will produce:
Previews of the biggest stories
Attend ALL key committee meetings, full council, Cabinet
Police authority, health trusts
Pick up content from meetings not attended
Distribute to any interested party
Slide

Public service reporting Slide

What happens now:
Funding applications being submitted
Possible Q2 2010 launch
Development of tender/franchise proposal
Finalising workflows and technologies
Broader funding debate
Slide

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Digital Editors Oct 2009(2)

by Sarah Hartley on Nov 02, 2009

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Digital Editors Oct 2009(2) — Presentation Transcript