Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats sign open letter backing local journalism

The Scottish Government is being urged to introduce a range of measures, including a dedicated fund, to support local journalism and in doing so protect local democracy and strengthen communities.

The Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats have signed an open letter from the Scottish Beacon, which has attracted significant cross-party support. It has been backed by their local councillor for Paisley Southwest Anne Hannigan and Grant Toghill their candidate for Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank.

The Scottish Beacon launched their campaign after Scottish publishers were excluded from the UK Government's new Local News Fund, worth up to £12 million in total. This fund aimed to support local news outlets which in recent years have struggled financially, with some areas left without local outlets altogether.

The Scottish Beacon's open letter calls for a dedicated Scottish Local News Fund, as well as greater investment of public advertising in independent local news and funded journalism placements accessible to independent publishers.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has lodged a written parliamentary question asking what consideration the Scottish Government has given to establishing a local news fund to provide financial support to local news outlets.

Anne Hannigan said:

"Local journalism plays an incredibly important role in our communities as a source of reliable information and local scrutiny.

“I am proud that the Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats are fully backing The Scottish Beacon’s open letter and its call for a Scottish Local News Fund.

"With the amount of misinformation increasingly rapidly on social media, the value of trustworthy local news sources in Renfrewshire is only going to increase further.”

Grant Toghill said:

"The Scottish Government need to join with other nations across the UK to step up and support local journalism as well. 

“We cannot allow a situation where local news outlets in England and Wales can access financial support, but Scottish outlets cannot.

“That's why we have signed The Scottish Beacon's open letter. If we don't act to support these outlets now with a Scottish Local News Fund, we will only mourn the loss of them later.”