Publishers Launch New Website for Local Journalism

Local newspaper publishers have come together to launch a new website called Behind Local News which features the latest news about local journalism in the UK.

The website contains news from the local journalism community with launch articles including an analysis of Archant’s data journalism unit and a piece by the editor of the Salisbury Journal detailing the paper’s coverage of the attempted murder in the city.  

The website also features a first-person piece by a KM Group Local Democracy Reporter, the first to be employed under the BBC and News Media Association’s pioneering Local News Partnership scheme and the inside track on how Cambridge newspapers covered the death of Professor Stephen Hawking. 

The editors behind the project are Trinity Mirror digital editorial strategy director David Higgerson, Johnston Press editor-in-chief Jeremy Clifford, Newsquest editorial development director Toby Granville, Trinity Mirror Regionals editorial director Alan Edmunds, Archant chief content officer Matt Kelly, and KM Group editorial director Ian Carter.

Alan Edmunds said: “Everyone is familiar with the challenges facing the industry but what is often overlooked is the fact that local journalism enjoys a huge and engaged audience – 42 million people in print or digital. 

“Behind Local News will provide a new platform for the fantastic work going on within the industry to bring high quality local news to people when and where they want to consume it.”

Jeremy Clifford added: “Behind Local News will shine a spotlight on the efforts of the talented and hardworking people in our industry who are committed to producing high quality local journalism and finding new and innovative ways to engage with audiences.”

Ian Carter said: “The website has got off to a great start with the first-person piece by our Local Democracy Reporter Caitlin Webb being the most-read piece on the website so far. It’s important for the local journalism industry to shout about its successes and we hope Behind Local News will grow into a powerful platform upon which to do just that.”

Recent content includes a piece with views from senior editorial figures on how to get the best out of editorial teams, and first  person pieces by Johnston Press journalism apprentices.