National and regional newspaper executives discuss the future of the news
The Communications and Digital Committee hears evidence from senior newspaper executives at national and regional outlets as it continues to explore the future of news.
Meeting details
Background
The inquiry is examining the changing media landscape and what needs to happen over the next 5 years to ensure a thriving, trusted and financially sustainable news ecosystem. Key issues include a decline in trust alongside growing news avoidance, challenges around editorial decisions in the face of political realignments, and the impact of tech platforms on news media business models. It comes amid the world’s largest election year and ahead of an anticipated UK general election.
Possible areas for discussion
Possible areas for discussion with the first witness panel include:
- The evolving economics of journalism and how media outlets are adapting business models to cope with a changing news environment;
- the challenges around providing high quality and accurate news at pace, while balancing other issues (including workforce pressures, the incentives generated by tech platform algorithms, and changing audience expectations);
- the fragmentation of the media environment and implications for national news outlets; and
- action needed from industry, the Government or regulators.
Possible areas for discussion with the second witness panel include:
- The financial health of local and regional news markets;
- the challenges and benefits relating to AI; and
- the development of new models of online local news provision.