Huw Marshall, Founder Talking Wales

The second annual Indie News Week starts today, Monday, June 9th, and runs until Saturday, June 15th, 2025. Dedicated to celebrating and supporting the UK’s independent news sector, it was launched by the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) in 2024. The initiative highlights the vital role that local community-led outlets play in sustaining democracy, fostering public engagement, and filling critical information gaps left by declining mainstream media.

Why does Indie News Week Matter?
Local news is facing dramatic challenges. We have written extensively about the challenges facing public interest news in Wales and further afield, from the rise of digital platforms absorbing advertising revenue to corporate consolidation and closures of local news outlets. Under the banner “No News is Bad News,” Indie News Week aims to raise awareness, foster community interaction, and amplify fundraising efforts for indie newsrooms.

Stronger Together
Collaboration is at the heart of this year’s events. For instance, South West Durham News and The Northern Eco will share a newsroom during Indie News Week, hosting podcasts, open doors, guided nature walks and market stalls.

These activities offer the public an insider view of journalism—how stories are crafted, verified, and published.

The Bylines Network are hosting a panel discussion focused on equality and diversity in indie media. Funded through coordinated community journalism, Bylines highlights how underrepresented voices can reshape newsrooms and challenge mainstream media narratives.

Across the UK
From Shetland to Eastbourne, Belfast to Bethesda, over 30 independent outlets will host local events, from quizzes and symposiums to online meet‑ups.

The Public Interest News Foundation’s director, Jonathan Heawood, told Hold the Front Page: “Communities deserve healthy news ecosystems that facilitate the free flow of information, speak truth to power and shine a light on important issues.”

More Than a Week
Indie News Week isn’t just a celebration; it’s about advocacy. The Public Interest News Foundation has launched a petition urging the UK Government to support local news infrastructure, backing Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s pledge for reliable news services in every town and village.

Importantly, the week also builds capacity. Outlets report increased confidence and skills after participating: better fundraising, community engagement, and collaboration that fortify their resilience against systemic challenges.

Looking Ahead
Indie News Week underscores just how much is at stake when community media thrives or dies. Successful initiatives show that indie outlets can flourish with public backing through donations, subscriptions, crowdfunding, and accessible local engagement. As the sector evolves, the campaign aims to sustain and scale support.

Talking Wales has launched a new website as part of Indie News Week, and is starting conversations around critical issues such as immigration, the Senedd elections in May 2026 and news provision in Wales as we develop our new service.

 
Indie News Week is a great starting point if you’d like to support Talking Wales. Less news means less community; as the campaign reminds us, no news is bad news.

Home » News » Public Interest News in an Ideal World

A plan for Wales

I regularly write about the challenges public interest news faces in Wales and further afield, mainly due to legacy news publishers’ failing business models.

There is a general consensus on the importance of public interest news, that is, news that informs the public regarding matters that impact their daily lives. It helps people make sense of the world they live in, tells them about the actions and activities of local and national governments and done well explains why the cost of a tin of baked beans has increased in the past 12 months, why getting a doctor’s appointment can be a challenge and why accessing affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult.

So, what would the perfect public interest news service look like?

Accessibility:

Accessibility refers to the availability of information across various platforms, including online, YouTube, social media, and radio, in a range of formats, including audio, video, text, and print. It also relates to how news and information are presented to the public; it must be easy to understand, trustworthy and relatable considering the intended audience.

To be fully accessible, it needs to be free to access.

Value:

Public interest news plays a crucial role in society by providing information that is essential for the well-being and functioning of communities. This can be summed up in five ways.

An Informed Citizenry: It helps people stay informed about important issues, enabling them to make educated decisions, particularly in democratic processes like voting.

Accountability: Public interest journalism holds those in power accountable by investigating and exposing corruption, misconduct, and other issues that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Transparency: It promotes transparency by shedding light on government actions, corporate practices, and other activities that affect the public.

Community Engagement: By covering local issues and events, public interest news fosters a sense of community and encourages civic engagement.

Public Good: It serves as a public good by providing information that benefits society as a whole, even if not everyone directly consumes it.

Its societal value is clear; getting the public to value it is a different matter.

As a society, we contribute to the cost of services through taxation, which provides our health and education services, keeps our roads in working condition, and keeps our streets free, where possible, of crime. This overview is slightly simplistic, but I’m sure you get the gist. For a society to function correctly, we must fund it.

We know that accessibility to impartial and factual information is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

Only 8% of the UK public currently pay for news, slightly lower than the 16% in the USA and substantially lower than the 40% in Norway.

There could be several factors at play here. Much of the news in the UK is free to access, funded through advertising or, in the case of the BBC, via the licence fee, which some would say is a form of tax. The quality of the news may well affect people’s perception of value. Some consumers may not see enough value in paid news subscriptions, especially when they can access similar information for free. The perceived value of exclusive content versus commoditised news can influence their willingness to pay.

The war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis have affected people’s willingness to fund news. When drawing up a list of financial priorities, a news subscription is an obvious target for the chop.

So, what’s the answer?

We build a community that cares about Wales and its future, values democracy, and wants Welsh citizens and the global Welsh diaspora to have access to information that helps them engage in democratic processes, giving them agency from an informed and educated perspective.

A community that’s invested in the numerous societal benefits a Welsh public interest news would deliver.

We need to take a new approach to creating and delivering news, and a new business model is required to fund that service.

The Service:

A new approach to delivering news with innovation at its heart. A new public square discussing the issues that matter to people. We won’t follow the news agenda; we’ll create our own daily agenda.

Giving Wales a voice through a daily national conversation on Wales’ first dedicated talk/news digital radio station. Listening to people in Wales, exploring and challenging the issues they care about, and getting answers to the questions they want to be answered.

Making sense of Wales, how it functions, and how Welsh citizens can contribute to the democratic process. Sharing information in relatable and accessible formats via a dedicated website, social media channels, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and YouTube.

Regular newsletters delivered straight to your inbox—podcasts on various topics, including Welsh politics, culture and history.

We’ll host virtual and in-person events where our community can meet, hear from and question policymakers and experts and discuss Wales.

The Business Model:

How we fund a Welsh public interest news service is critical to its long-term success. That’s why Talking Wales will be community-owned. A community that shares a desire to ensure every Welsh citizen has access to the news and information that allows them to understand the Wales they live in and take informed decisions at the ballot box.

A community that values the contribution of accessible public interest news and its potential benefits to Welsh society.

An annual membership, payable monthly or annually, will fund our day-to-day operations and pay staff costs. This membership will also provide voting rights at the Annual General Meeting and access to exclusive content and events.

Talking Wales will issue community shares. These shares do not increase in value but attract a modest level of interest. After a specific time period, they can be sold back to Talking Wales when it is in a financial position to repurchase them. The door will be open to institutional impact investors, businesses, and organisations that wish to include ethical and impactful investments in their investment portfolios.

This will give Talking Wales the required capital to grow annual revenues.

Our target is to achieve a membership of 10,000 individuals who care passionately about democracy and are invested in ensuring Welsh citizens have access to the objective, independent news and information they need and deserve.

What?

Talking Wales – a public interest news service for Wales.

Public interest news is, at its core, news that serves the public good. It focuses on providing information that:

• Empowers citizens.
• Holds power accountable.
• Facilitates informed democracy.
• Prioritizes truth and accuracy.

Think of it as news that equips people to be active and engaged citizens in a healthy democracy. It’s not just about reporting facts, but about providing context, analysis, and a platform for diverse voices to be heard.

That’s what we’ll be delivering at Talking.Wales. A service that:

• Focuses on issues of broad public concern: not just sensational stories or personal scandals.
• Conducts investigative journalism: uncovering hidden truths and holding power to account.
• Is independent and accountable: not beholden to special interests or political agendas.
• Promotes accessibility and inclusivity: reaching diverse audiences and giving voice to the marginalized.
• Will be committed to fact-checking and verification: upholding reliable and accurate information.

Public interest news is vital for a healthy democracy. By supporting independent journalists that uphold these principles you can help keep our communities in Wales informed and engaged.

How?

Wales’ first talk radio station: Leading the news agenda in Wales, keeping you updated with what’s happening throughout the day, with a range of voices helping to make sense of the issues of the day, and giving the people of Wales a space to share their views and concerns. It will also be a home for a range of podcasts covering different topics from a Welsh perspective.

YouTube channel: A home for discussions about Wales and for you to tell the stories of your communities.

A dedicated Welsh news website updated regularly throughout the day with regular features and opinion pieces.

Social Media: Sharing our content in relevant, accessible, formats across a range of platforms. If you get your news from social media, you’ll get the story in its entirety without the need to click through to a website.

Regular newsletters on a range of topics, from a daily digest to specialisms such as education, health, and the environment.

Events, in person, online and hybrid. We’ll be starting a national conversation and taking that conversation around Wales where you can hear from and challenge decision-makers and influencers.

Why?

Ultimately, a vibrant, diverse, and accessible public interest news service for Wales, utilizing a multi-platform approach, can strengthen the foundations of Welsh democracy by empowering citizens, holding power to account, and celebrating the unique voice of Wales.

Countering the decline of traditional media: Wales has faced a steady decline in local and regional news outlets, leading to “news deserts” where information is scarce. This creates a democratic deficit, as citizens lack the vital information needed to hold their representatives accountable and engage meaningfully in civic life. A public interest news service can fill these gaps, ensuring diverse and accessible coverage of issues relevant to Welsh communities.

Reaching a wider audience: Traditional media often struggles to reach younger generations and diverse communities. Using a multi-platform approach can attract these audiences through formats they prefer, like podcasts and social media. This fosters democratic participation by ensuring everyone has access to accurate and reliable information, regardless of their background or media preferences.

Holding power to account: A dedicated public interest news service can play a crucial role in investigative journalism, scrutinizing the actions of government, businesses, and other powerful actors. This holds them accountable to the public and strengthens democratic principles. Independent journalism, free from commercial pressures, can expose injustices and spark necessary conversations about critical issues.

Promoting Welsh identity and language: Wales has a rich cultural heritage and unique social challenges. A dedicated news service can give these issues due attention, fostering a stronger sense of national identity and celebrating Welsh culture. Additionally, incorporating Welsh language options in podcasts, newsletters, and social media can promote its vitality and accessibility.

Encouraging active citizenship: By providing in-depth analysis, diverse viewpoints, and opportunities for public engagement, such as live calls-in or online forums, a public interest news service can empower citizens to participate actively in democratic processes. This fosters a more informed and engaged citizenry, which is essential for a healthy democracy.

Owned and funded by you, we’ll be answerable to you.

Its staff, specifically the journalists it employs.

What makes an effective news service? Giving time to journalists to research, investigate and publish their stories, to follow up and publish updates.

The general public would be surprised to learn how few journalists are employed by some outlets with many relying on press releases to bolster their output.

Quality, not quantity.

You may notice that some outlets publish a lot of content every day, some serious journalism and a lot of inconsequential pieces. Why?

The majority of digital news sites derive income from advertising, how much they earn is based on the number of page views they generate. The majority of stories published aren’t read in big numbers, editors are seeking that breakout story every day, one that will drive tens or hundreds of thousands of page views.

This is why many publishers incentivise journalists with bonuses linked to monthly page view targets. It’s not about the quality of a story or its impact its all about the number of page views it generates.

Publishing a substantial number of stories every day creates a cumulative number of page views, and increases the odds of publishing the piece that generates the big numbers, enough to satisfy advertisers and generate revenues for owners and shareholders.

It shouldn’t be like this. We won’t be driven by page views.

We will focus on the stories of the day that matter, the stories that impact the day-to-day lives of Welsh citizens. We will ask questions of government at national and local levels and most importantly demand answers, and if answers aren’t forthcoming use all the tools at our disposal to ensure the public is kept fully informed. We won’t be a platform for publishing press releases.

We will be creating a space where policy ideas can be discussed and commission pieces from experts in their fields.

We will focus on the key devolved responsibilities, Health, Education and of course the Economy.

How will it be funded?

Initially through investment via a share issue. You will be able to own a stake in the company. As Community Benefit Society shares don’t increase in value but they will attract interest.

In the long-term subscriptions will fund our work, your monthly subscriptions will not only give you access to exclusive content, they will also allow us to employ journalists. The more who subscribe the more we will employ.

Any profits generated will be reinvested into the service, that’s not just a promise it’s a requirement for Community Benefit Societies.

We’re building a company for the long term and you can be part of it.

Like the sound of what we’re developing? Become a supporter today, click the button below