IFNC Selection Panel Chairman Defends Scheme

Richard Hooper, chairman of the Independently Funded News Consortia selection panel, has outlined the enthusiasm for the scheme displayed by bidders, in response to calls for it to be halted.

Media Guardian journalist Maggie Brown had said it was irresponsible for the replacement ITV regional news pilots to go ahead given the political uncertainty over their future.

Mr Hooper wrote: “All of the selection panel were, frankly, surprised by the level of enthusiasm for the idea of IFNCs. But there is a real sense that this is urgent and requires swift action.

“ITV is less and less willing to fund loss-making regional news; there is a significant news deficit in Wales where 87 per cent of daily newspaper readers are reading an English not a Welsh paper; local newspapers and local radio face structural, not just cyclical decline.

“The pilots will provide any government with models for more innovative, cost-effective and inclusive local news.”

For further information please contact Paul Sinker on 020 763 274 24 or sinkerp@newspapersoc.org.uk.