Newsrewired podcast: Memberships and alternative business models to support local democracy

Last week's newsrewired brought up many great talking points from AI in the newsroom to engaging with Gen Z.

In this week’s podcast, we turn our attention to one of the big talking points on the day: increasing news organisations’ revenue streams.

Local news organisations in particular are struggling to survive under the financial pressure, which raises concerns for local democracy: without local reporters and newsrooms, who holds local powers to account?

At newsrewired, we explored alternative funding methods. Amanda Michel, deputy membership editor, the Guardian, brought delegates her five lessons in membership since introducing their membership scheme three years ago.

Peter Jukes, journalist, led the new business models panel, with Alon Aviram, co-founder of the Bristol cable, Rachel Oldroyd, managing editor, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Brian Cathcart, founder of Hacked Off.

Between them, they looked at how co-operative models, collaborative networking and implementing charity status within the media industry aims to support local democracy, and the challenges in doing so.

Our next newsrewired digital journalism conference will take place on 6 March 2019. Put the date in your diary today, and head to newsrewired.com for the early-bird offer — but hurry as it is limited availability. Be sure to check out the rest of the coverage from the conference there too.

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