The government has one of the world’s biggest innovation funds for the future of local news ‐ the so called independently funded news consortia or IFNC. Pilots will run in Wales, Scotland and the Tyne Tees/Borders TV regions, hopefully embracing the full spectrum from hyperlocal to regional news. I am on the panel to help select the winning bidders. It is essential to get serious dialogues going between TV, radio, print and local independent web news media. On Wednesday 3 February the Panel will be in Cardiff to meet bidders for the Wales pilot.
There will be a public meeting where the bidders do a show and tell and people can put questions. This will be at 1500-1600 in the Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL.
It would be great to see some of Wales independent web publishers there ‐ whether you run a hyperlocal site or any other sort of news service. Your contribution will be vital to the future of news. It’s a public meeting so you can just turn up. I know that for those of you with day jobs this might be tricky ‐ but there is rarely a time to suit everyone. If you need childcare or special access requirements to attend then drop a line to ifncpilots@culture.gsi.gov.uk and they will help you.
We shall also be in Newcastle and Glasgow in the next few days and it would be great to see web people there too:
- In Newcastle, the public meeting will take place on Friday 5 February, 3-4pm at Northern Film and Media, The Kiln, Hoult’s Yard, Walker Road, Newcastle NE6 1AB.
- In Glasgow, the public meeting will take place on Monday 8 February, 2-3pm at the Radisson Blu Hotel, 301 Argyle Street, G2 8DL.
William Perrin
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Can you tell us when the Teesside meeting will be held?