About PINF's research​
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Through a range of research projects, including the PINF Index, our Local News Map and our Impact Research programme, we address fundamental questions about independent public interest news: What is the public value of indie news? Who benefits from this and who misses out? What drives sustainability in this sector?
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These activities are informed by our capacity-building programmes and enhance our advocacy for the sector.
The Projects
PINF Index
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We have established the PINF Index of Independent News Publishing as the most robust source of data about the indie news sector in the UK. Through a detailed survey, the Index shows how indie news providers serve their communities, and the challenges they face. We will continue to develop the Index into an invaluable resource for policymakers, platforms and philanthropists, and for indie news providers themselves.
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Local News Map ​​
​​We launched a pilot version of the Local News Map in 2023 to understand the state of local news in the UK, and have since launched an updated report.
The Map shows how well every area in the UK is covered by local news and reveals how local news relates to factors such as economic deprivation, democratic engagement and community cohesion. Over the next three years, we will develop the Map to explore these relationships and track changes in the local news ecosystem.
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Local News Plans ​​
In 2022 and 2023, we ran six Local News Plans to explore how we can get local communities involved in strengthening public interest news that speaks to them, for them and with them.
We worked in Bangor, Bristol, Folkestone, Glasgow, Manchester and Newry, speaking to residents in each area to find out what they want from local news, and how to achieve this.
We spoke to local news providers, businesses, community groups, councillors and others, to understand how local news can become more relevant and sustainable.
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Driving Disinformation
In May 2024, we produced a research report with the cross-party thinktank Demos, on the dynamics that arose in the public debate around Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods.
Working from the assumption that disinformation was the main driver of the social divisions around this policy, we analysed more than half a million online posts and engaged more than 70 stakeholders, including local journalists, community leaders, activists and politicians in Enfield, Oxford and Rochdale.
The working assumption was turned on its head. We found that democratic deficits and barriers to the robust provision of trusted independent local news enabled the weaponisation of disinformation in the first place.
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Impact Research
We take every opportunity to understand the impact of indie news providers on the social, democratic and economic wellbeing communities, and how to maximise this.
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This helps news providers to articulate and test their theories of change and demonstrate their impact to the public, philanthropists and other stakeholders. It also helps us to enhance and measure PINF’s own impact on society, via the news providers we support.