Anna Sabine MP stands up for “essential” local journalism in Parliamentary debate

Anna Sabine MP stands up for “essential” local journalism in Parliamentary debate

Speaking in a Parliamentary debate yesterday on the future of local media, Anna Sabine, MP for Frome and East Somerset, highlighted the critical work carried out by local news outlets despite increasingly stretched resources.

Anna praised the “brilliant work” of publications including the Frome Times, Midsomer Norton Journal and Somerset Leveller, 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.

Citing the DCMS BBC Mid-Term Review, published in January 2024 and containing 39 recommendations for the BBC and Ofcom, Anna said the subsequent Ofcom review into local media and its proposed measures “deserve serious consideration”, adding that recent government steps which make local journalism less sustainable are “frustrating”.

She highlighted the Liberal Democrats’ amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which would require at least one public notice to be printed in a local newspaper, ensuring local titles receive a share of the £32 million annual public notice budget. She also reiterated Liberal Democrat support for expanding the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Scheme, which she called a “lifeline, placing dedicated reporters in local newsrooms to cover councils, courts, and public bodies,” provided it is sustainably funded.

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 concluded: “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.”

END.