Fifty local news providers and seven journalism infrastructure projects have been awarded grants through a £6 million government fund, with several projects focused on artificial intelligence, digital publishing and new sources of income.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced the recipients on Thursday 5 November 2026, during Journalism Matters Week. The published award list includes independent online outlets, newspapers, community broadcasters and technology developers.
The Local News Fund is intended to help publishers adapt to changing audience habits and improve financial sustainability. The grants support planned projects, rather than demonstrating that those projects have already achieved their stated aims.
Who is receiving the funding?
The main grants are worth up to £125,000 each. A separate group of seven infrastructure awards, worth up to £275,000 each, is intended to develop services and tools that could benefit the wider news industry.
Among the named recipients are:
- Meon Valley Times, Hampshire, £98,450: developing advertising, sponsorship and supporter income, alongside a community engagement editor.
- Newsquest Media Group, £125,000: testing an AI-assisted reporting app and a new hyperlocal news service in Hammersmith and Fulham.
- Wrexham.com, £34,436: building an AI tool to monitor public sources and flag possible stories to journalists.
- OCN Technology, £124,879: developing tools intended to help a single editor produce more than 25 substantial public-interest stories a week using AI.
- National Council for the Training of Journalists, £191,880: establishing shared guidance, standards and training for responsible AI in local journalism.
OCN Technology, trading as Open Council Network, is also listed for a separate £183,836 infrastructure award to expand software that helps reporters examine council agendas, decisions and meeting material. Other infrastructure recipients include Bylines Networks, Contribly and Data Language UK.
What will AI be used for?
The projects show several different proposed uses of AI. Some are designed to help journalists search public documents, transcribe interviews or identify possible reporting leads. Others focus on producing material in multiple formats or improving audience data.
Newsquest’s proposed tool, for example, would help process audio, video, photographs and notes into drafts for review by journalists and editors. The NCTJ project is designed to develop industry-led guidance on using such technology responsibly.
The National Union of Journalists welcomed the funding but said it would monitor the impact of AI grants in consultation with members. Its general secretary, Laura Davison, also said journalists remain concerned about their livelihoods and the wider state of the industry.
How were the grants decided?
The government says applications had to demonstrate at least 12 months of sustained local journalism in England or Wales and editorial accountability. The Government Grants Managed Service carried out a technical assessment, while an independent industry steering board assessed the strategic merits of bids before DCMS made the awards.
Questions about state funding and media independence are legitimate. In an April 2026 parliamentary answer, media minister Ian Murray said grant awards would not be linked to particular types of coverage or political impartiality. The government says the steering board was appointed to provide a degree of independence in funding decisions.
That distinction matters: the announcement identifies which organisations have received awards and what they intend to build, but does not establish how successfully each grant will be used. Outcomes will need to be assessed as the projects progress.
More funding planned for 2027
The programme launched in July with £6 million allocated to the 2026/27 financial year and up to another £6 million proposed for 2027/28.
DCMS says £1 million of next year’s planned funding will be dedicated to so-called news deserts, communities with no dedicated local print, online, television or radio news outlet. Up to a further £5 million could support financial sustainability and innovation. Further application details will be needed before prospective bidders can assess the next round.
Journalism careers campaign reaches 11,000 pupils
The announcement also reports that an Inspiring the Future pilot, jointly funded with the News Media Association, has reached more than 11,000 pupils at over 100 schools.
The initial six-month project focused on the North West, with schools in areas of greater deprivation prioritised. The government says a national expansion will depend on an evaluation and further funding.
