If you missed BBC Radio 4’s The Westminster Hour last night, catch up with a feature on local news here at this link. It includes comments from City University journalism professor and media commentator Roy Greenslade, and the Lichfield Blog’s Ross Hawkes [Hawkes will be talking at Journalism.co.uk’s news:rewired event on 14 January; more information at this link…] The Westminster Hour discusses council newspapers, PA’s public reporting project (as yet still seeking funding) and the Culture, Media and Sport select committee inquiry.
Traditionally, local newspapers have reported the decisions of local authorities and how justice is administered in the courts.
But the role of holding to account public bodies is threatened by the closure of many local newspapers – last year alone more than 70 papers folded.