A manifesto for

In late 2023, co-founder Rhiannon spent six weeks in North America visiting innovative local media projects who were re-inventing what journalism could be – from the ground up.

She spent time with the pioneers of the civic media movement including Resolve Philly, City Bureau in Chicago, Documented in NYC, the Center for Cooperative Media in New Jersey, the Colorado Media Project, Documenters, Rebuild Local News, and dozens more.

The lessons she learned on this trip informed her thinking on the need for this approach in the UK and Europe. This led her to founding Greater Community Media with Lucas in 2025.

Ten key lessons

  1. Start with community needs
    Journalism should be driven by the needs of the people it serves, not outdated industry norms. Listening to communities helps create more relevant and impactful reporting.

  2. Break free from tradition
    journalism must move past outdated practices and egos that prevent innovation. Community-driven approaches and citizen journalism can reshape the field.

  3. Who gets to tell the story matters
    Representation in media matters. Inclusive, co-creational journalism can build trust and challenge harmful narratives.

  4. Collaboration is the future
    The best journalism happens when newsrooms work together. cooperative models allow for deeper reporting and more diverse perspectives.

  5. Impact over output
    The success of journalism should be measured by its real-world impact – not just clicks or page views, but structural change, community engagement, and empowerment.

  6. Better newsroom cultures are needed
    Toxic, high-pressure newsroom environments must be replaced with workplaces that prioritise well-being, equity, and collaboration.

  7. Think of journalism as an ecosystem
    Journalism is just one part of a broader information landscape. It must work alongside community organisations, libraries, and other civic institutions.

  8. Funding must be sustainable
    journalism cannot rely on short-term grants or projects. Core, long-term funding is needed to support strong, independent local news.

  9. Public funding for journalism is essential
    Journalism is a public good – like libraries – and should receive government support to ensure its survival and accessibility.

  10. Policy change is necessary
    Governments must implement policies that support local news, such as tax incentives, government advertising in local media, and funding initiatives.

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