A huge milestone for one of our partners and some good news for the indie news scene!
Scottish Beacon publishing partner C&B News publishes its 500th issue; Mill Media launches in Glasgow; Journalism fund announced; and People-Powered Media series
The Scottish Beacon was launched to connect local newsrooms in Scotland and to strengthen the voice of the community-based media sector.
Because at The Scottish Beacon we believe community is important and making sure communities across Scotland have their voices heard is essential to revealing under-reported stories that connect and strengthen local communities. We try to do this while bringing visibility to the vital work of community-based, independent local journalism.
That’s why we are excited by the news that award-winning independent media group, Mill Media, who oversee five other local titles, are launching their latest venture in the city of Glasgow. Its always good to see new titles being launched.
At the beginning of this year The Guardian reported on the ‘collapse of local media’ being a significant issue, with more than 320 local papers closing between 2009 and 2019 as advertising revenues plummeted.
We know that there are so many community-based independent publications working hard to keep providing this vital service despite the challenges. And it is incredible to see one of our partners - Currie and Balerno News - celebrate their 500th issue!
Heres to many more
-Devon
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Elsewhere in local news…
Community news magazine and Scottish Beacon publishing partner, C&B News, publishes 500th monthly issue
The volunteer-led community news magazine will publish its 500th monthly edition this Friday.
C&B News is distributed free, 10 months a year, across five communities in south-west Edinburgh: Currie, Balerno, Juniper Green, Baberton Mains, and Colinton.
Launched as Currie & Balerno News in February 1976, the “paper” has never failed to produce a promised issue—continuing in print even during successive Covid-19 lockdowns during 2020 and 2021.
“Today, as always, C&B News aims to be a platform to display the rich talent, expertise, interests and achievements of local people,” says the paper’s chair, Gail Rankin.
“We don’t have a pool of paid journalists who write articles for the magazine, but benefit from the opinions and knowledge of local people to inform the wider community each month in the articles they submit.”
Paul Fisher Cockburn is a freelance journalist contracted to prepare each issue for publication. “I often describe myself as the ‘lucky 13th editor’, he says. “It’s been my good fortune to inherit a well-established and much loved publication which is loyally supported not just by its readers and contributors but also by so many local businesses that still actively choose to advertise in a print-first publication.”
Although the 500th issue (cover-dated October 2024) will include an article celebrating notable previous editions, its main focus will remain recent and forthcoming local events and activities.
“Reporting and presenting what’s going on in the local community was the original motivation for launching C&B News,” says Paul. “That remains our aim today. And, hopefully, it’s what we – and our successors – will still be doing for many more issues to come.”
People-Powered Storytelling is a new collaborative series hosted on the PINF website showcasing the transformative power of grassroots, community-centred media across the UK. This project brings together ten dynamic news and media organisations, each dedicated to creating stories driven by real, lived experiences.
Greater Govanhill and the Ferret wrote about their experience of running The Community Newsroom and their ‘Open House’ editorial meetings:
The idea for our Open House editorial meetings was to provide an opportunity for journalists from Greater Govanhill and The Ferret to collaborate with people with lived experience of different issues, as well as professionals and campaigners working on a range of topics. Everyone was invited into our public space on an equal footing to share their expertise.
Read the article here. Mill Media launches Glasgow-based community news publication called The Bell on Monday
Promotional image for The Bell, the new Glasgow title from local newsletter startup Mill Media. Picture: Mill Media
The Bell, which launches Monday 30 September, will become Mill Media’s fifth community title.
The website will initially launch outside of a paywall, aiming to release new content three times a week. It will also be Mill Media’s first new launch away from Substack, the platform where the venture originally started in Manchester four years ago.
Much needed journalism funding announced
Very excited to see that the Public Interest News Foundation and Changing Ideas have launched a fund for impactful journalism project – The Tenacious Awards.
The prize winners will be awarded between £5,000 and £20,000 to produce a piece of journalism which makes the most impact, which makes the biggest difference. In addition, awardees will get eight months of coaching and mentoring to boost their journalism's impact, with results showcased at the 2025 Indie News Forum.