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Have your say on local news - Tyne Tees/Borders

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2 February 2010

Issued on behalf of the Selection Panel for the Independently Funded News Consortia pilots

What do you think of your regional television news? Is there enough information about what’s happening where you live? Would you like more local stories online or on the radio? These are all questions that will be put to members of the public who come along to a meeting in Newcastle on Friday 5 February about the future of national and regional news in Tyne Tees/Borders.

Given ITV’s decision to withdraw from regional news provision in the long term, the Government is planning to run three pilot schemes, one each in Wales, Scotland and Tyne Tees/Borders to try new ways of providing news at regional, local and hyperlocal level. The Government would fund a consortia of media companies to provide local news content across a number of different platforms, including the television slot currently occupied by ITV regional news.

An independent panel of media experts, which will be selecting the winning bidders, is visiting Newcastle on Friday 5 February to discuss each of the bids in detail. To help them make a recommendation to Ministers as to who should run the Tyne Tees/Borders pilot they will also hold a public meeting. This meeting will enable local people to hear from the three bidders competing to run the pilot and to put forward their own ideas and views.

Richard Hooper Chair of the independent selection panel said:

“The future of national, regional and local news across the Tyne Tees/Borders region is extremely important. The planned public meeting in Newcastle gives people an opportunity to hear about the proposals and ask questions, and I would encourage as many people as possible to come along.”

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The three consortia bidding for the Tyne Tees/Borders pilot are:

  • ITN with Johnston Press, Newsquest, Metro Radio, University of Sunderland and ITV Tyne Tees and Borders news staff;
  • Trinity Mirror with the Press Association and Ten Alps;
  • UTV.

The public meeting will be taking place from 3-4pm on Friday 5 February at Northern Film & Media, Studio 3, The Kiln, Hoults Yard, Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AB.

Similar events are being held in Cardiff on 3 February and Glasgow on 8 February.  See the link below for details.


Notes to Editors

  1. More information about the IFNC Pilots and the Selection Panel can be found at the DCMS website. 
  2. The public meeting in Glasgow on 8 February will be taking place from 2-3pm at Radisson Hotel, 301 Argyle St, G2 8DL.

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200

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