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

Public service reporting 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

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

Public service reporting 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

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%

Public service reporting 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

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.”

Public service reporting 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

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."

Public service reporting 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

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

Three stage project Slide

Three stage project 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

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

Public service reporting 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

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

Public service reporting Slide

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

What happens now:

Funding applications being submitted

Possible Q2 2010 launch

Development of tender/franchise proposal

Finalising workflows and technologies

Broader funding debate