Frome’s MP Anna Sabine has highlighted the critical work carried out by local news outlets, despite increasingly stretched resources, in a recent Parliamentary debate.
Anna praised the ‘brilliant work’ of publications, including the Frome Times, noting that they “hold power to account, they inform people on issues that matter locally, and they keep our communities engaged,” describing them as “exemplars of what local journalism should be.”
The debate, secured by Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill), examined the mounting challenges facing local print media – from falling advertising revenues and the prevalence of free online content, to a growing disengagement from news consumption altogether.
Highlighting the innovative measures many outlets are exploring to stay afloat, including the use of AI, the development of podcasts and new subscription models, Anna noted that these strategies have not always been successful. In some parts of the country, she warned, a resulting “postcode lottery” of local news provision has left many communities facing “local news deserts.”
Anna drew particular attention to the Frome Times and a recent survey by Frome Town Council which found it remains the primary source of local information for residents. Yet, she said, despite repeated commitments from successive governments on the importance of local journalism, little has changed for those working in the sector, echoing concerns she has heard directly from the paper’s editor.
She said, “The Frome Times in my constituency is an excellent example of a local newspaper that is serving communities, and a recent survey by the town council found that the newspaper is the way most people in Frome find out what’s happening locally.
“The editor of the Frome Times, said to me ‘For many years, successive governments have discussed local journalism, including the 2023 report on the Sustainability of Local Journalism. Yet, from the coal face, little has changed. The most meaningful support the industry could receive is a genuine ‘levelling of the playing field’. For too long, dominance has rested with three corporate publishers, whose sales are declining and whose journalism is increasingly distant from local communities. Yet, government bodies (via Omnicom) and local authorities continue to rely on them for advertising spend. Decisions about which parts of the industry to support must ask one simple question: does this actually serve the community it claims to represent?’
“I would be very grateful if the Minister would commit to reviewing how local councils and government departments procure their advertising spend, and to ensure that some account is taken of the community impact of that spending.”
In an era of misinformation and fake news, Anna emphasised the indispensable role of a strong independent press, stating that it “is not a luxury, it is essential to a healthy democracy.”
She added, “If we are serious about protecting our democracy, we must ensure that local news is properly supported, fairly funded, and given the tools it needs to continue informing, empowering, and connecting the communities it serves.”
