Who’s who? The groups championing independent media in the UK

In December last year, a report commissioned by the Democracy Fund examined journalism support organisations in the US. The report identified six distinct types of support organisations:

Funding intermediaries: These entities primarily fundraise from philanthropy or receive government funding, using a focused or priority lens to allocate dollars directly to newsmakers. (Examples: American Journalism Project, NC Local News Lab Fund, NJ Civic Information Consortium Associations and Networks: Organizations or groups that convene people with shared interests and challenges and facilitate peer learning, field wayfinding and identifying field needs (Examples: INN, LION, LMA, JOC Slack, News Futures, Gather) Client Services: Businesses or individuals offering tailored services or products to meet the needs of clients, including newsmakers or funders. (Examples: Blue Engine Collaborative, Hearken, URL Media) Researchers and Analysts: Individuals or organizations producing academic research or reported analysis focused on the local news field. (Examples: Local News Impact Consortium, The Objective, Columbia Journalism Review, Nieman Lab Advocates: Organizations or individuals working to inform, develop or advocate for policies that benefit the local news field. (Examples: Free Press, Rebuild Local News Educators: Organizations, academic institutions or individuals providing training or professional development for newsmakers or funders. (Examples: Trusting News, Center for Community Media at CUNY, Listening Post Collective)

But what if we run a similar exercise for the UK? What does the landscape look like here, and what is needed for support organisations to more efficiently and effectively serve the media sector? 

It would be a mammoth research task to focus on every organisation supporting journalism here, so we’ve outlined those supporting the independent and public interest news sectors. Hopefully, it goes some way to laying the land.

Funders

According to research by the Press Gazette, there are a handful of top journalism funders in the UK:

• Arcadia

• Sigrid Rausing Trust

• National Lottery Community Fund

• Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

• Wellcome Trust

• Comic Relief

• David & Elaine Potter Foundation

• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

• Lloyd's Register Foundation

• Indigo Trust

• Trust for London

• Lankelly Chase Foundation

• Paul Hamlyn Foundation

• The Freedom Fund (UK)

• Peace Direct

This list is by no means exhaustive, but represents the largest funders to date.

Associations and Networks

• Independent Media Association (IMA): A trade association and cooperative for local, national, and international independent media outlets in the UK.

• Independent Community News Network (ICNN): A network of hyperlocal and community news publishers.

• Scottish Beacon: A collaborative network of independent local and hyperlocal newsrooms serving diverse communities in Scotland.

• Association of Online Publishers (AOP): A trade association representing digital publishing companies in the UK.

• Independent Publishers Alliance (IPA): A nonprofit community advocating for and connecting independent publishers.

• National Union of Journalists (NUJ): Advocates for journalists' rights and provides training. There are also alternative unions like the British Association of Journalists (BAJ) and the Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ).

Resources, education and support

• Journo Resources: An award-winning social enterprise helping individuals break into and progress in the media industry.

• Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): Funded by the BBC, this initiative places Local Democracy Reporters in local newsrooms, benefiting many independent publishers.

• Journalists’ Charity: Founded by Charles Dickens, it offers advice and support to industry professionals.

• Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ): Specialises in research and training for investigative journalism.

Advocates and Campaigners

• Media Reform Coalition (MRC): Unites activists, academics, and media producers to challenge unaccountable media corporations and promote a democratic media system.

• Ethical Journalism Network (EJN): A charity comprising over 70 individuals and groups committed to upholding ethical journalism principles.

• Women In Journalism: A nonprofit organisation providing guidance and support for journalists.

• Inclusive Journalism Cymru: A membership organisation and campaign network to protect, support and represent people who’ve been marginalised or excluded by the journalism industry.

• Charitable Journalism Project: Journalists, funders, lawyers, academics and media experts working together to research, analyse, and advance public understanding of public benefit journalism.

• Public Interest News Network (PINF): Connects news organisations, funders, and advocates for public interest news.

• Hacked Off: Established in 2011, it campaigns for a free and accountable press.

• Better Media: Aims to build a large scale democratic membership organisation to organise, fund and support campaigns for Better Media in the UK.

Regulators

• Independent Monitor for the Press (Impress): The first independent press regulator recognised by the Press Recognition Panel.

• Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO): Regulates most UK newspapers and magazines, though it does not fully comply with the Leveson Inquiry recommendations.

There are some caveats; for example, PINF, IMA, and Impress could fit into multiple categories. Better Media and MRC primarily campaign but also have membership networks, as does Women in Journalism, which advocates for women while offering a membership scheme. 

This overlap underscores the interconnected nature of support organisations in the media landscape, where collaboration and shared goals are vital for fostering a robust journalism ecosystem.

The UK’s journalism support landscape is diverse, with many organisations dedicated to enhancing the quality and sustainability of independent media and public interest news. 

To maximise their impact, these organisations must continue to collaborate, share resources, and adapt to the evolving challenges in the media sector. By doing so, they can ensure journalism remains sustainable and supported.

We’re starting to take this spirit of collaboration further with our collective bargaining alliance, where the IMA will work with other trade associations to negotiate with Big Tech on behalf of our members, securing better deals and financial compensation for independent media outlets.

You can read more about that here.