John Harris is right (The demise of local radio is fuelling a new age of ‘Unplace’, 12 March). Britain faces a crisis in local news and the closure of radio stations exacerbates it. Such reporting is essential if local government is to be held to account, justice seen to be done and local communities empowered. However, there are beacons of hope.
Local television stations such as KMTV provide the necessary scrutiny every day. Our reporters attend council meetings and courts. They bring the views of Kent MPs direct to their constituents. KMTV’s daily schedule celebrates the achievements of local communities, sports people and musicians. Every day we produce more news for Kent than BBC South East and ITV Meridian combined. New technology and multi-skilled journalists make it possible. KMTV is dedicated to “the provision of local news and content” that Jeremy Hunt sought in his 2014 speech to the Oxford Media Convention. We ask only that ministers find ways to support what they wished into existence. Meagre advertising revenue alone cannot fund public interest journalism.
Tim Luckhurst
Head of the Centre for Journalism, University of Kent; director, KMTV
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