About PINF's advocacy
We build significant support for independent public interest news from policymakers (through our Local News Commission); digital technology platforms (through the News for All Campaign); philanthropists (through Press Forward UK); and the general public (through Indie News Week).
These activities are informed by our Research projects and power our Capacity-Building programmes.
The Projects
Local News Commission
Many policymakers take an interest in the fate of journalism, which plays a central role in democracy, but previous UK Government has been slow to address the crisis affecting local news. Through the Local News Commission, we will generate a broad coalition in support of fresh ideas to sustain independent local news, and policy proposals for the new Government. We will work with the coalition to promote these ideas through a series of publications and events over the next three years.
News for All Campaign
Big tech platforms help news providers reach large audiences, but they also extract valuable data and revenue from those audiences, leaving indie providers struggling to survive. Through our News for All Campaign, we have advanced the rights of indie news providers in new legislation. We will use this framework to negotiate fair deals from platforms and AI companies, working in partnership with colleagues in the UK and internationally.
Indie News Week
The first annual Indie News Week launched in June 2024, bringing together 45 news providers in 60 UK communities. Through this campaign, we support and stimulate this sector to build strong and sustainable relationships with their communities, leading to higher trust, engagement, revenue and impact. Indie News Week includes a match-funding initiative, the Indie News Fund, developing news providers’ fundraising skills and improving their financial viability. In its first year, we facilitated the flow of more than £125,000 into the sector.