The Index of Independent News Publishing is the first ever comprehensive survey of the sector in the UK.

I shared my response alongside Dame Frances Cairncross, author of the Cairncross Review, and Emma Meese, director of the Independent Community News Network.

Key Findings:

• The reach of the sector far outstrips its revenue – the 56 respondents to the Index reach 10m monthly unique users on annual revenues of under £5.4m.
• The sector operates on a shoestring – the median income of publishers was £42,224 and 40% of publishers generated less than £20,000 income.
• Only 7% of publishers received government advertising or public notices
• Only one-sixth of publishers’ revenue came from readers via membership or subscriptions.
• Some 40% of the publishers’ workforce is female but organisations with a higher proportion of women have higher revenues.
• Some 9% of people working in the sector are from ethnic minorities and 70% of publishers have no ethnic minority workers.
• Publishers said their greatest opportunity was the public’s growing awareness of the importance of local journalism following Covid-19.

Download the report here >>