Sustaining Hyperlocal Media in the UK

CONTEXT - DEFINING HYPERLOCAL

HYPERLOCAL NEWS PUBLISHING - Sustainability

ABOUT THIS RESEARCH

Hyperlocal news publishing is geographically-based,

The proliferation of very localised news services in the UK comes

This research draws on a survey of 183 hyperlocal news

community-oriented, [...] indigenous to the web and intended

at a time of increasing concern over the decline of the local

publishers and further interviews with 36 of these (both

to fill perceived gaps in coverage of an issue or region and to

mainstream press. Such hyperlocal news operations might be

carried out in 2014). The survey is a collaboration between two

promote civic engagement, according to Metzgar et al., (2011:

seen as usefully filling the democratic deficit left behind by a

different AHRC-funded projects: the Media, Community and the

774). This definition, in common with others, emphasises the

newspaper industry with fewer professional journalists on hand

Creative Citizen project, based at Cardiff and Birmingham City

attention to civic value that is a characteristic of much hyperlocal to hold local power to account. But how sustainable are such

Universities; and the Media Power and Plurality project, based at

news as well as allowing the web, and digital news practices, to

operations? What are the business models underpinning them

the University of Westminster. The interviews were carried out

be placed centre-stage whilst not excluding the possibility of

and what pressures do they face as they go about their day-to-

by the research team on the Media, Community and the Creative

attention to multiple news platforms.

day operations?

Citizen project (Dave Harte, Andy Williams, Jerome Turner).

There were 408 active

hyperlocals in the UK in 2014,
a decline from 496 in 2013.

Is hyperlocal self- or externally-funded?

63%

16%

11% 10%

I pay all the

costs associated
with running
my website
myself

I raise money
from the site
but not enough
to cover all the
costs

I raise
enough
money to just
about covers
the costs

I raise
enough
money to
more than
cover costs

What funding sources do hyperlocals draw upon?

Advertising
Own money
Sponsored
features

Voluntary
donations

Other

Grant funding
Subscriptions

77% 44% 31% 25% 25% 7%

28%

How sustainable is hyperlocal?

53%

36%

11%

I do aim to make money from the

site. In the early days, I dont think
that we did. It was bringing in a little
bit of traffic and it was nice to try
and write a few little bits about the
council and what was going on, but
we werent getting a huge amount
of traffic but now that we are, it
just makes sense to try and expand
the work that were doing to make
money from the site.
Tom Rodgers, Salford Online

The thought of having the economic

pressure of actually having to make
a living through it, I think it would
just totally take away the enjoyment
actually and it becomes a chore, and
its a horrible thing because its so tied
into probably where you live and your
community, that I wouldnt want to
take it on.
Robin Byles, Crosspool News

I can sustain
and perhaps
increase it

I can sustain it
at the current
level

The site may

decline or
close

What support do hyperlocals need?

Help to fund
my own time

Help with
promotion /
marketing

Help with
selling
advertising

Help to pay
contributors

We try and get grants where we can,

thats another part of my job to try
and find grants, and obviously theyre
harder and harder to come by.
Anna Williams, The Ambler

We dont place a great deal of value

on how much money we could make
and it might just stop being the fun
thing it is if we do start doing that.

Technical help
Help registering
a company
Training

Neil Cooke, BalsallCom.com

63% 61% 51% 42% 42% 32% 23%

Notes:
1
Question asked: Do you pay all the costs yourself, or do you raise money to cover them,
however small (excluding the cost of your own time)? (n=171).
2
Question asked to those who indicated they did generate income: Which of the following are
sources of funding for your hyperlocal? (n=61). Multiple responses were accepted, hence results
dont add up to 100%.
3
Question asked: Do you believe you can sustain your site at the current level of output over the
next 6-12 months? (n=165).
4
Question asked: What sort of support would you take advantage of if it were available? (n=128).
Multiple responses were accepted, hence results dont add up to 100%.

References:
Barnett, S. & Townend, J. (2014) Plurality, Policy and the Local. Journalism Practice, pp. 1-18.
Metzgar, E. T., Kurpius, D. D. & Rowley, K. M. (2011) Defining hyperlocal media: Proposing a
framework for discussion. New Media & Society, Vol 13, No 5, pp. 772-787.
Williams, A., Harte, D. & Turner, J. (2014) The Value of UK Hyperlocal Community News. Digital
Journalism, pp. 1-24.
Williams, A., Barnett, S., Townend, J. & Harte, D (2014) The State of Hyperlocal Community News in the
UK: Findings from a survey of practitioners. Available at: http://hyperlocalsurvey.wordpress.com/

Poster created in February 2015 by Dave Harte, Birmingham City

University. More on the Creative Citizens project at: creativecitizens.co.uk