While local papers seem to have been in decline over recent years, they remain an important source of news for their communities. Many journalists begin their careers on a local paper, where they source stories from the area and represent the views of local people. Read on for our top tips for local journalists.
Be representative
You may think you know your audience, but take the time to speak to as wide a range of different people as possible and feature their stories. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy recently announced that “every town, city and village” will have local news. At a time of concerns around AI, it’s important to represent everyone and show them how valuable trusted news is.
Be visible
It’s vital to be at the heart of the community and let people know you are there, whether that’s online or in real life. Nothing beats face-to-face conversations with local residents, but you can easily build a good online presence too, through sharing your stories on social media and holding Q&As. Allowing readers to put a face to the name behind the byline is key to building positive relationships and trust, both in you as a reporter and in your publication.
Show your value
Journalists these days have to earn trust in their profession, so it’s a good idea to explain why you do the work you do and how. You could show them what goes into putting a newspaper together, how you decide the front-page splash, and what training you’ve undergone. Many reporters will have a journalism degree, and there are many colleges offering these, such as //schoolofjournalism.co.uk/. You could put together a podcast or use social media tools like Instagram and Facebook stories to showcase your work.
Keep it fresh
Don’t rely on news coming to you and don’t just rewrite press releases – get out there and talk to people to find out what they care about and what they want to read about. Ask your audience what they want to see covered, rather than simply feeding them what you think they need to know.
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