THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS are leading a cross-party campaign calling on the Government to support local and independent media through an increased share of public health communications spending.

Writing to the government, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael had warned that although the “All in, All together” campaign had provided public health information as well as advertising revenue for major media groups, local press organisations and individual journalists had raised the Government’s lack of support for them.

In a letter to the Government, the cross-party campaign is calling for the Government to pledge a proportionate share of public health advertising spend to local press, meaning both a short-term boost to the Government’s public health communications as well as a long-term investment in protecting and maintaining local media across the United Kingdom.

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: “Local press are some of the most trusted sources of news for our communities and we must support them in this challenging time. They are vital to our efforts to respond and recover from the coronavirus and yet they are facing significant financial difficulties.

“This letter is about getting a fair share of government advertising spend for local and independent press, to reflect both their importance in our communities and their financial needs. The Secretary of State for Health has an important role in deciding where these advertising funds go.”

Alistair Cameron, Liberal Democrat National Assembly Candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire said:

“Local journalism is an important part of the community here in West Carmarthen and South Pembrokeshire. Local outlets such as the Pembrokeshire Herald play a crucial role in not only keeping us all informed about the news in Pembrokeshire, but they also are part of the fight against coronavirus.

“The Government must take action in pledging a proportionate share of public health advertising spend to local media. This will not only provide financial support to ensure these outlets don’t go under during this crisis, but step up the public information available to the public which is imperative to delaying the spread of the virus.”

Printing the Herald series newspapers (File Image)

The text of the letter from Alistair Carmichael is as follows: ‘We write regarding our shared concerns about the situation of local press and media during the coronavirus crisis and our interest in the government’s support for this vital industry. We seek urgent clarification from the government on how it intends to support and enhance local press despite current challenges.

The new “All in, All together” campaign is a welcome effort by the government to provide essential information at this time. It also fulfils a role in providing financial support for the press through much-needed advertising revenue.

We have, however, received representations from local press organisations and individual journalists, many of whom are concerned about a perceived lack of support from government for smaller-scale news outlets by comparison to major media groups. This includes the Independent Community News Network (ICNN), the official trade body for independent community news publishers, which reaches over 5m people online each month, and acts as part of the fourth largest news publishing organisation in the UK.

Accurate and timely information from trusted sources is vital during this pandemic. It is well-known that local press act as some of the most trusted sources of information for our communities. We believe that ignoring or limiting the use of these media outlets risks leaving our constituents with insufficient access to the trusted knowledge they need.

Local media groups have been put greatly at risk economically by the current crisis. Many press outfits have limited financial reserves or do not meet the criteria for other forms of government support, whether due to their size, the diverse ways in which they operate or other reasons. Continued financial exposure without support may risk an existential crisis for much of our independent media.

We believe that it is essential that the government show its support for independent and community media at this time by pledging a proportionate share of public health advertising spend to local press. This would represent both a short-term boost to the government’s public health communications, and a long-term investment in protecting and maintaining our diverse media landscape, throughout the United Kingdom.’