Recent announcements of cuts to BBC local radio sent shockwaves through both sides of the House. MPs turned out in their droves to address what the loss of local radio would mean for their constituents.
I have a long and proud history of working in local radio. Having worked in the sector for twenty years, I have seen first-hand the importance of local journalism and its impact on communities, bringing to life the stories that matter to people in places like Warrington. Losing BBC local radio would be a great blow to many communities. It would serve to irreparably damage the already sensitive local media ecosystem.
It’s easy to forget how important local media is to all communities, since it provides an opportunity for reading, hearing, or watching stories that cover everything from money raised in a school bake sale to the latest convictions in local courts. It’s an important reminder to people living in the same area that they share a connection with their neighbours that is defined by more than just proximity. In a society increasingly effected by loneliness, it is hard to not draw a parallel between this and the decline of local news.
The reaction to the reduction of locally produced and presented programmes demonstrates just how much people value local radio. The variety of local news outlets on offer means that people can flexibly engage with news online, whilst some might prefer radio or television news. Television news is often forgotten when talking about local media ecosystems, and local TV licensed services were notably absent from the consultation that preceded the “Up Next” white paper.
True to Jeremy Hunt’s vision when he first proposed local television in 2012, local television creates content for local TV on local issues, and offers a perspective on national or even international issues in relation to the local area. Its content is Ofcom-regulated and is accessible via channels 7 and 8 and via Freeview. Despite its vital role in connecting local communities with news in their area, local TV is often absent from discourse on broadcasting.
It might be difficult to appreciate the need for local television news if you are from a city where you might often be amply served by BBC television services. But for people in those hard-to-reach areas which may be miles and miles from their nearest town, the only time they ever see the issues they care about represented on screen is often from their local television station.
The cuts to BBC local radio have rightly triggered scrutiny of the organisation and the direction of travel for the delicate ecology of public service broadcasting. To “save” local news we need to see that publicly funded services, like BBC radio, provide content in areas where others cannot operate. However, we also need to expand our concern to how to save these vital local services that communities across the country benefit from. This is even more pressing as the proposed cuts to local radio could see communities bereft of any local broadcast news content.
Communities rely on local TV stations to be informed about local issues that affect them, issues that may never otherwise be reported. Local TV are increasingly delivering an engaging service to all, including to “digitally excluded” groups, offering a credible, entertaining, and local alternative to London-centric national broadcasters. The pandemic highlighted the vital role that local TV networks play in serving the full spectrum of the community. Many stations providing educational content to children and vital information like vaccination centre locations.
But the licences for all local TV stations and the multiplex operator are due to expire, creating huge amounts of uncertainty for an entire industry that desperately needs to plan for its future if it is to survive and thrive. It is vital that the Government decides soon on local television licencing and provides the clarity that allows local TV to continue to serve communities across the UK in the future.
If Ofcom and the Government drag their heels then we risk waking up to a future in which the media landscape is increasingly homogenised, leading many communities to feel excluded, as well as other policy implications that we cannot yet foresee. It is up to the Government to grasp this opportunity: taking the long-term view of backing local TV will ensure that residents will be able to access the local news that matters to their communities.
This article first appeared on ConservativeHome.