UK Startups Revitalize Local News Landscape

On the second floor of a furniture shop in London, three reporters are hard at work putting together the latest issue of a newsletter that highlights everything from local food bank funding to the local café scene.

The Slice is a community-focused magazine and part of a network of four hyper-local news websites that cater to Tower Hamlets, an area in East London known for its cultural diversity but also facing significant socioeconomic challenges.

While many local newspapers have shut down across Britain, The Slice aims to create a sustainable model for local journalism in underprivileged areas, according to its founder and editor, Tabitha Stapley.

Stapley, a former fashion journalist, has established The Slice as a non-profit organization, which is supported by about 500 paid subscribers, comprising residents and local businesses. These subscribers receive exclusive newsletters while helping to keep the publication accessible for everyone.

Even the choice of office space reflects local principles, with the furniture store owner providing the room free of charge in exchange for some advertising.

“For me, the most thrilling aspect of this role is that we’re pioneering something unique,” said Agatha Scaggiante, the deputy editor and the only other full-time staff member working alongside Stapley.

This newsroom represents a beacon of hope in a country grappling with “news deserts,” leaving approximately 4.8 million individuals without dedicated local news resources, as noted by Jonathan Heawood, executive director of the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF).

Advertising Challenges

Struggling with declining revenues as audiences turn to predominantly online platforms, nearly 300 local newspapers in the UK ceased operations between 2005 and 2024, as reported by the Press Gazette. These closures included long-standing family-owned papers that had been part of their communities for generations.

The typical local news model today often consists of a website filled with vaguely area-related articles interspersed with numerous pop-up ads, which has left readers feeling “uninspired and disengaged,” Heawood told AFP.

The remaining 1,200 local news outlets are also facing financial hardships and resource cuts. Heawood emphasized that local journalism “provides significant social benefits,” enriching awareness of civic institutions and democratic participation, reducing division, and instilling community pride.

“A news desert is not merely a dull spot on a map; it’s indicative of a community that feels unrepresented,” Heawood remarked. “People genuinely grieve that loss.”

Established in 2018, The Slice stands out as the sole newspaper in Tower Hamlets with a locally-based team serving over 300,000 residents, according to Stapley. So far, approximately 8,000 individuals have subscribed to its newsletters.

During the previous year’s general election, the team conducted video interviews with all the candidates running for MP in Tower Hamlets, providing voters the chance to see the candidates up-close.

Creating New Paths

Meanwhile, from Manchester to Glasgow, Joshi Herrmann’s Mill Media is creating a different regional news experience by focusing on long-form stories and in-depth investigations covering everything from local culture to issues of corruption.

Starting with the Manchester Mill in 2020, Herrmann now oversees six local publications that employ around 20 people across the UK.

Their investigations have exposed serious allegations, such as the toxic work culture at a university in Manchester and a Labour MP being the landlord of a children’s home with dubious safety compliance.

“We’re competing for people’s attention and loyalty, so we need to innovate,” Herrmann told AFP.

Primarily sustained by a subscriber base expected to reach 10,000 soon, Mill Media secured significant investment during a seed funding round in 2023. It has also attracted around 500,000 readers, and Herrmann indicated that they are currently operating at a break-even point.

“It feels like, similar to the push against fast fashion, people are looking for alternatives to quick, superficial news,” said Victoria Munro, a contributor to the Mill’s sister publication, the Sheffield Tribune.

When The Mill debuted in Manchester, local resident Sophie Atkinson remarked that it “seemed too good to be true.” She noted, “Long-form journalism in Manchester simply hadn’t existed for years,” and she now serves as a senior editor at the publication.

Additionally, before the Tribune launched in 2021, Sheffield’s over 500,000 residents were left with only one local daily newspaper.

“No one had attempted this kind of email-driven, subscription-based local media effort before,” Herrmann stated. “People need to see that this model can succeed.”

Since then, similar newsletter and subscription-based local media initiatives have emerged across the UK, according to Herrmann.

“There are reasons for optimism,” said Heawood. However, he also cautioned that “I’m not sure the next few years will be easy for us,” urging for greater government support and calls for tech giants to modify their practices to make the digital landscape more beneficial for community and independent media.