Steven Barnett quoted in the Observer on the growing crisis in local journalism

The closure of City Matters, the City of London’s local newspaper, marks another setback in the ongoing decline of regional journalism across the UK. Speaking to the Observer, Prof. Steven Barnett warned that the disappearance of local reporting has far-reaching social and political consequences.

Prof. Barnett noted that the absence of dedicated local journalists leaves communities vulnerable to misinformation and polarisation, as “people [can] foment anxiety in local Facebook and WhatsApp groups.”

Without credible reporting, public bodies and councils operate with less accountability, while civic engagement, local events, and even grassroots sports participation suffer, argues the article. More than 300 local papers have closed since 2005, leaving millions of people in “news deserts.”

Read the full article here.

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