Broadcaster wants local democracy reporters to be paid for by charity that can seek own funding
The
BBC is asking private companies to pay the salaries of reporters who will scrutinise local councils in another sign that there is currently no commercial business model that can support much of traditional regional journalism.
While the US has a culture of wealthy philanthropists funding not-for-profit public interest journalism, the
UK has been slow to adopt a similar model. The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall, is now calling on private companies and civic-minded individuals to pay the salaries of reporters who will “hold those in power to account” by covering local government and institutions such as the NHS.