Giant Private Companies Are Dominating Publicly-Funded Local Democracy Reporting

Analysis By Somerset Independents

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We report on the stories that matter to local residents. But we cannot do it all on our own. There must be others who stand up for residents, right? Who is reporting on the reporters? We are.

Analysis done by Somerset Independents shows that privately-owned media giants will continue to dominate the reporting of local democracy, and will continue to receive public money via the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service from 2021-2024 across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Our article here explores What Is A Local Democracy Reporter?

Just three companies - Reach, JPI Media and Newsquest - control over 83% of all 118 contracts for Local Democracy Reporters (LDRs). The giant three also control over 84% of all individuals employed as LDRs.

The remaining 17% of contracts are distributed amongst fifteen companies. And the remaining 16% of LDRs are split thinly amongst those fifteen minnows.

More analysis by Somerset Independents

The Local Democracy Reporting Service is funded by the BBC from public money, with the money going to the privately-owned media companies. It is a public-private partnership (PPP). LDRs are hosted by the private companies, with reporting and editorial lines of accountability within those companies. LDRs do not report back to the BBC. Media outlets can subscribe to the output of LDRs.

In all, eighteen companies were awarded LDR contracts. Reach (formerly Trinity Mirror) got 51 of the total 118 (43.2%) awarded - with 75 of the total 165 LDR reporters being with Reach. JPI Media were awarded the second highest number of contracts, 24 (20.3%) and 35.5 (21.5%) of reporters. Newsquest were awarded the third highest number of contracts, 23 (19.5%) and 28.5 (17.5%) of reporters.

DC Thomson were the next highest number of contracts, with just 5 and 3.5 reporters. The fourteen other companies were awarded a total of 15 contracts.

This domination by three companies raises serious questions about editorial influence and accountability in the reporting of local democracy in the United Kingdom.

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Source: “New Local Democracy Reporting Service contract holders revealed - Eighteen news organisations will employ Local Democracy Reporters from July 2021”, https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ldrs/2021_contracts/. 

LDRs Funding Allocation document: (“Table A: Allocated contracts and reporters by operating company”), https://bbc.com/lnp/documents/ldrs_suppliers_2021_v1.pdf

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