The 150 local democracy reporters will form a core part of the Local News Partnership agreement between the BBC and the News Media Association, set up to improve the coverage of councils and other institutions across the UK.
The application process for regional news outlets seeking to bid for Local Democracy Reporter contracts opened on September 11, via the BBC’s Supplier Portal. It closes on October 13.
Welcoming the opening of the applications, News Media Association Chairman Ashley Highfield said: “This is a major milestone in the partnership forged between the NMA and the BBC where we can announce the start of the recruitment process for the 150 local democracy reporters.
“Media organisations will be able to bid to run the contracts for the reporters, which means we will see the addition of nearly 150 journalists working in newsrooms up and down the country.
“Once recruited and in place they will help to support the scrutiny our news organisations provide for the way public money is spent by local councils and authorities - which is a fundamental part of our local democracy.”
The LNP is a joint working agreement between the BBC and the News Media Association to provide a commitment to full and fair reporting of decisions taken by local authorities and other public bodies across the UK.
The proposals represent an overall investment of around £8million per year to support both the BBC’s on-going public mission to serve local audiences and the growth and evolution of the commercial news media sector.
David Holdsworth, Controller of English Regions, said: “With the application process opening for the contracts for Local Democracy Reporters this week we have reached another important milestone in the Local News Partnership. Reporting on council meetings and holding regional politicians to account is a major part of the democratic process.”
Links / further reading: BBC Supplier Portal, Local News Partnership, News Media Association
