Government backs independent journalism in Ipswich

We are proud and excited to announce that Ipswich.co.uk is one of 50 organisations sharing a £6 million Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) fund to keep trusted, quality local journalism alive in communities at risk of losing it.

It is a vote of confidence – not only in us, but in the independent media sector and our town.

A different kind of local media company

Ipswich.co.uk has no paywall and no banner advertising. Readers and local businesses that want to be part of something better for this town fund our journalism and keep it free for everyone – not just those who can afford to pay. We believe that there is a better model for local journalism, and we've spent the last two years figuring out what that model looks like in Ipswich.

The Local News Fund recognises that alternative models are working and are worth backing.

Media Minister Ian Murray said the Government was "determined not to leave local journalism to collapse", adding that the fund would "help newsrooms innovate and adapt their business models for the online world, while incentivising and encouraging the production of high-quality, trustworthy news that Britain's towns and villages deserve and rely on".

Still fiercely independent

It matters, particularly for a publication that spends much of its time scrutinising people in power, that nobody in Westminster picked the winners.

Bids were assessed against published criteria by a Local News Fund steering board made up of eight independent industry experts, appointed through open recruitment. The Government Grants Managed Service carried out a separate technical assessment, with the board providing strategic input before the department made final decisions.

Applicants had to demonstrate a sustained track record of local reporting and show that their content is editorially accountable. No local politician had any role in the process.

We are pleased to enjoy support across the political spectrum. We have earned the trust and respect of many political figures and parties by proving we deliver news with unfettered impartiality.

Polly Curtis, co-chair of the steering board, said the fund "showed there is incredible talent and capacity across the country to revitalise local news when communities are so desperately in need of trusted sources of information".

Her fellow co-chair, Jeremy Clifford, said the volume and quality of bids had created "a major headache" for the board, and that many worthwhile applications had to be turned down.

An investment in our partners

The funding is not simply an investment in our reporting. It is an investment in the organisations that already back it, and in those that will.

We've already taken the first step. Yvonne Hargreaves has joined us as our Head of Strategic Partnerships and Partner Success. Many of you will already know Yvonne. She brings a wealth of brand and marketing experience, deep relationships across the Suffolk business community, and genuine enthusiasm for this town and the businesses that trade in it.

Her remit is twofold: to expand the number of local organisations we work with to improve Ipswich, and to ensure we maximise the value of every partnership we already hold.

She looks forward to meeting every one of our existing partners, as well as many new ones.

Supporting that will be continued investment in our partner platform, further improvements to our website, and additional investment in our brand and in our content studio — a professional 4K multi-camera video podcast studio in the heart of the town centre.

There is a great deal more to come on all of it, and we will be in touch with partners directly in due course.

An investment in our town

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott described local journalism as "vital to a healthy democracy".

"It tells the stories that matter, gives communities a voice and ensures that those in positions of power are held to account," he said.

"Local news organisations have faced enormous financial pressures as advertising revenues have declined and audiences have moved online. We cannot afford to lose the independent journalism that keeps our communities informed and connected."

On the award itself, he said: "That is why I am delighted that Ipswich.co.uk has secured more than £114,000 through the £6 million Local News Fund. This is a significant investment in the future of local news in our town, helping Oliver and the team build stronger partnerships with local businesses and develop new ways to connect with readers."

He added: "I commend Ipswich.co.uk for the work it does to tell our town's stories. From championing local businesses and community organisations to scrutinising decisions that affect people's everyday lives, strong local journalism helps make Ipswich a better-informed and more connected place."

The bottom line

This award does not put additional reporters in our newsroom. What it does is build the commercial capacity required to sustain our journalism and its impact on the town for years to come.

If backing Ipswich is a conversation you want to have, Yvonne (yvonne@ipswich.co.uk) would love to hear from you.

Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.

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