Indie News Week
No News is Bad News
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Big Tech greed and corporate takeovers are strangling local news, and the indie news providers that bring you the news you need are struggling to keep the lights on.
That's why, in June 2024, PINF launched the UK’s first awareness-raising and crowdfunding campaign for independent news, with the slogan No News is Bad News.
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Indie News Week (which ran from 3-9 June) was designed to raise the profile of indie news providers, whilst the Indie News Fund (which ran until 30 June) supported the sector financially by doubling the funds raised by participating news providers during the month of June.
‘It's been a huge shot in the arm for me. I had been feeling quite despondent about the future in the lead-up to Indie News Week, so to have a successful fundraiser and in-person event has been a real boost.' - The Greenwich Wire
‘It was fantastic and one of the most supportive I've been a part of – really appreciate the team's efforts and delighted to have met so many peers and potential collaborators through the campaign.’
The initiatives injected £128,000 of new revenue into the sector. 40 independent news providers signed up for Indie News Week, from Shetland to Eastbourne, Belfast to Bethesda and Norwich. 27 of those also took part in the £50,000 Indie News Fund (generously financed by Struan and Jana Bartlett, the Tinsley Charitable Trust and the Cobalt Trust).
PINF worked with participants to set individual fundraising targets, which the providers smashed, raising £78,000.
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In addition to the financial value of the Indie News Fund, participants in Indie News Week also overwhelmingly reported increased confidence and capacity to continue community engagement and fundraising, so we believe that this initiative has created a virtuous cycle of sustainability, which we can build on in future years.
Watch this space for Indie News Week 2025!