There are around
800
local new media titles published in UK
Source: NMA
Reaching over
42m
GB adults in print and digital every month
Source: JICREG
Which is
77%
of the GB population 15+
Source: JICREG
80% of UK adults trust the news and information they see in their local media.
Source: OnePoll Survey, July 2025
88%
of 15-29-year-olds consume trusted journalism
Source: Youth: A Newsworks Study 2024
News brand content is
85%
more trusted than other content on social media
Source: Youth: A Newsworks Study 2024
7 in 10
young people read news brands, checking in 6 times a day.
Source: Youth: A Newsworks Study 2024
Local journalists drive trust in content on local news media:
63% agree that “the more familiar I am with a journalist, the more I trust what they say”
Consumer research conducted on behalf of Reach Plc by PA Consulting Base
Local news media improves advertising trustworthiness and brand perception:
76%
Trustworthy +10% ↑
(more likely vs other media)
74%
Engaging +5% ↑
(more likely vs other media)
75%
Professional +8% ↑
(more likely vs other media)
Consumer research conducted on behalf of Reach Plc by PA Consulting Base
91%
agree local news media improves communities by campaigning on the issues that matter to residents.
Source: OnePoll Survey, March 2024
74%
of UK readers turn to a news brand to verify stories they read on social media. This makes it a valuable space for advertisers.
Source: Newsworks “Fact Not Fake” Report, 2023
Those that use news publishers see a
60%
increase in the perceived quality of their brand.
Source: Newsworks “Fact Not Fake” Report, 2023
74%
agree “it would be a great loss to our society if reliable journalism disappeared.”
Source: Newsworks “Fact Not Fake” Report, 2023
70%
rated trust, accuracy, and impartiality highly for print newspapers in 2025, up from 60% in 2018.
Source: Ofcom, “News Consumption in the UK: 2025,” based on regular readers.
55%
Of local editors say it is harder to report on local public bodies than it was five years ago.
Source: News Media Association survey of NMA local editors, 2025
75%
Of local editors say council press officers and staff are less willing to help local journalists than they were five years ago.
Source: News Media Association survey of NMA local editors, 2025
50%
Of local editors say police officers and staff such as press officers are less willing to help to local journalists than five years ago.
Source: News Media Association survey of NMA local editors, 2025