NUJ unveils journalism stimulus plan
The National Union of Journalists has released an eight-point economic stimulus plan which it hopes new Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw might adopt.
The government's Digital Britain report is due out in late June and is expected to include plans to help the local journalism industry.
NUJ general secretary Jeremy DearImage: NUJ
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said in a letter to the minister: “Local media is being undermined by the sapping away of resources from local newsrooms and a failure by major companies to invest in quality journalism.”
The eight points included in the stimulus package are:
- The reform of cross-media ownership rules with a strengthened public interest test.
- A hard and fast commitment to ring-fence licence fee funding for the BBC.
- A levy introduced on commercial operators who benefit from quality public service content - including local news - but do not contribute to its production.
- Tax breaks for local media who meet clearly defined public purposes.
- Tax credits for individuals who buy quality media.
- Direct support to help establish new genuinely local media organisations.
- Strategic use of central and local government advertising.
- Support for training opportunities that open access to journalism.