June 3, 2020, 1530-1630 (BST)
Research Webinar
Deadline: June 2, 2020
Given that our conferences and network meetings have had to be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak, the MeCCSA Local and Community Media Network and the MeCCSA Policy Network has been organising a research webinar series. The aim of the series is to provide a forum for scholarly discussions and networking, as well as explore topical issues that are of interest to our members.
The next research webinar will be on ‘Local News - The Role of Independent Media’, with Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director, Public Interest News Foundation. After Jonathan’s talk there will be opportunity for questions and discussion.
Please sign up at this link, by Tuesday 2 June 2020 - the link to join the research webinar will be emailed to you when you have registered for your free ticket to attend: https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Flocal-news-the-role-of-independent-media-with-jonathan-heawood-pinf-meccsa-network-event-tickets-105019650602&data=02%7C01%7Caa5891%40coventry.ac.uk%7C19d23e54e96841abc20f08d7fb362372%7C4b18ab9a37654abeac7c0e0d398afd4f%7C0%7C0%7C637254082253797026&sdata=VRs2xbCj06F59AneIuRqwz2sxCwMbUIedG8xE%2FINvMc%3D&reserved=0
By joining you give your consent to be recorded (this seminar will be posted online at a later date). Please mute your microphone during the main presentation, before the Q and A.
Local News - The Role of Independent Media
Jonathan Heawood
Public Interest News Foundation
The COVID-19 crisis has created a perfect storm for independent news providers in the UK. Already vulnerable, these small organisations are struggling to stay afloat whilst continuing to publish public interest journalism about the pandemic. Publishers, editors and journalists are balancing their own safety against the need to report on the situation. More than 60% are going beyond traditional journalism in their response to the crisis - not only publishing news and information, but also providing direct support to vulnerable citizens; organising online events; coordinating volunteers; and working with local businesses to provide information about home deliveries. Despite their vital role, most independent news providers are facing the risk of collapse, and the Government has so far failed to include them in its support package for corporate newspaper publishers. In this presentation, Dr Jonathan Heawood describes the role played by independent news providers during the COVID-19 crisis and considers two versions of the future - one in which independent providers survive and thrive; and one in which they are destroyed.
Jonathan Heawood is Executive Director of the Public Interest News Foundation and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Stirling
