Ofcom report highlights BBC’s impact on local news publishers

Ofcom’s Review of Local News in the UK has identified the BBC as a contributing factor to the challenges faced by commercial local news publishers. The communication watchdog’s report highlights how the BBC’s increased investment in local online journalism is displacing commercial page views, thereby exacerbating the ongoing decline of traditional local media outlets.

The report points to significant shifts in audience behaviour, including news avoidance and changing referral patterns from platforms like Google and Facebook, as critical factors behind the long-term decline in page views experienced by commercial publishers. However, it acknowledges that the BBC’s expansion into local news is forming part of the headwinds that commercial outlets are navigating.

The report shows that, since March 2023, BBC England local news page views have surged by 40%, reaching about 300 million by June 2024. In stark contrast, commercial local news page views fell by 20% in the same timeframe, dropping from around 750 million to 600 million. This indicates a clear shift in audience engagement towards the BBC, particularly in regions where they have established dedicated online sections, like Wolverhampton and Bradford.

Ofcom’s findings reveal that only 2% of the BBC’s local content is unique, raising questions about the diversity of local news coverage. David Higgerson, chief digital publisher at Reach PLC, Britain’s largest local news publisher, commented: “The data presented by the BBC speaks for itself, as does its research.” He also elucidated that longer articles typically found in commercial outlets suggest that the BBC’s approach is threatening to dilute deeper local journalism, potentially resulting in a media landscape dominated by a single publisher.

Despite the challenges posed by the BBC, local news outlets such as Reach’s Manchester Evening News continue to assert their value through community engagement and investigative journalism. In recent weeks, the newspaper has successfully raised £250,000 to preserve the historic Salford Lads Club and has campaigned for reforms in domestic violence laws following a tragic incident in Wigan.

Ofcom’s report also speculates that continued expansion by the BBC into localised content could lead to increased pressure on regional titles, emphasising the need for consideration of how such changes affect local media plurality. “If the BBC provided more localised online content, people might choose it over alternative online sources, suggesting greater potential for substitution,” the report states.

Responding to these findings, Higgerson indicated hope that the BBC would heed ongoing calls from MPs and advocacy groups to foster a healthier local news ecosystem in the UK. The review underscores the necessity for a multidimensional approach to support local journalism, which goes beyond the BBC’s current efforts with initiatives like the Local Democracy Reporters Service, where it funds local reporters for new titles.

Source: Noah Wire Services