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Concerns have been raised of 'news deserts' in Northern Ireland, amid news that the UK government’s £12m funding for local media that opened for application this month, only applies to England and Wales.
Television presenter Gordon Burns has joined Newry.ie. DownNews.co.uk and Newry LN in calling for funding to also be made available here in the north.
Famous for hosting the ITV quiz show the Krypton Factor Gordon has also been a regional news anchorman on the BBC for many years.
With family ties to hyper local news, Gordon has now expressed concerns that a lack of “vital” Stormont funding could leave local people without a voice.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Gordon said: “Why are local newspapers and other local news outlets important?
“Because they bring communities together, because they keep people informed of what is happening around them, because they are a trusted source, because they hold local politicians and public bodies to account, because they give local people a voice including the opportunity to fight decisions they think unfair or unreasonable. And because they help reflect the unique culture and identity of a community.”
The Burns family connection to local news started back in 1867 with James Burns founding the Newry Reporter as well as links from Lisburn to Derry and even Stormont’s Hansard reporting.
Gordon added: “The Westminster government has increased funding for local news in England and Scotland. Stormont needs to do the same before it’s too late. It’s absolutely vital they do.”
Grants of up to £125,000 are now available to local news outlets as part of the UK government’s Local Media Action Plan announced by culture secretary Lisa Nandy in March for eligible applicants in England or Wales.
The Local News Fund will provide £6m in the current financial year and a further £6m in 2027/28 to help ensure the long-term provision of high-quality local news. Some local online news sites and social media platforms have spoken out on being left out of the current funding model by Westminster.
Two years ago ‘Newry.ie’ was part of a Public Interest News Foundation pilot project of a ‘Local News Fund for Newry’, something that helped lead the way to the recent government initiative.
Newry.ie editor, Columba O’Hare said: "The importance of trustworthy local news has never been greater, in a climate where so much misleading and false information is published daily as 'fact'. The cost of producing reliable news runs into many thousands and small independently owned news sites like ourselves are constantly expending an incredible amount of energy and time in just keeping afloat, time that would be much better spent in actually sourcing, reporting and promoting much more local news and events.
"The countering of mis-information and the reporting of what is going on in everyday life is essential for a vibrant healthy society. News providers that are established and trusted in their local communities are the perfect place to produce this - but they do need to be supported or they will cease to exist leaving behind a 'news desert', the perfect place for misinformation and lies to propagate."
Just one place where online platforms are at a major financial disadvantage is the publication of statutory Public Notices, as Government insist that these need to be published in a physical newspaper.
O'Hare concluded: “The Stormont Executive needs to step up and support established local news gatherers here and set up a Local News Fund similar to what has been announced for England and Wales."
Owner of Down News Jim Masson said: “I set up Down News, a hyper local newspaper back in 2009.
“I don’t expect any change soon to be honest as our politicians at the Assembly seem to be happy with the clientelistic status quo, especially with elections coming up in May 2027. Change will have to come from Westminster.”
Newry.LN founder, John McCabe said: “Every day, we deliver real-time coverage of social, environmental, business, and political developments. Government investment in local digital news is a high-return investment in communities and economies.
“Platforms like Newry.LN provide essential on-the-ground information for Stormont and local councils to identify community needs, while actively contributing to regional planning and economic growth. It is time for the Stormont government to support local digital news before the communities and businesses we champion lose their voice.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Scheme is also funded through public money by the BBC, but the journalists are employed by regional organisations such as Reach Plc, which includes Belfast Live.
A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide greater transparency of local government and public service organisations. The LDRS contacted the Department for Communities as the media public funding matter is a devolved issue.
However, DfC deferred to the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
A spokesperson for DCMS said: “While the overarching objective of the Local Media Action Plan is to support local journalism across the UK, this specific grant scheme is currently available to local news outlets in England and Wales only, given that press funding is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
“Regarding the Infrastructure portion of the Fund, bids are invited from across the UK, with no restrictions on where the project’s benefits can be felt, except that bidders must be able to demonstrate in their bids how benefits would be felt at least by local media in England or Wales. We intend to engage the Northern Ireland Executive over the coming months to explore UK-wide expansion of the Fund in Year 2 (2027/28).”
Additional reporting: Columba O'Hare
