![News deserts If local papers are dying, will local democracy die with them?](https://cdn.magzter.com/1588175106/1719030912/articles/E4caX6DCT1719034798198/NEWS-DESERTS-IF-LOCAL-PAPERS-ARE-DYING-WILL-LOCAL-DEMOCRACY-DIE-WITH-THEM.jpg)
If the national polls are correct, Akoto is in with a decent chance of becoming the first ever Labour MP for South West Wiltshire, where the Conservative incumbent, Andrew Murrison, is defending a 21,630 majority.
In the past Akoto might have stopped off at the market town's local newspaper office on the campaign trail. But the main Trowbridge office of the Wiltshire Times, part of Newsquest and ultimately the US-based media group Gannett, closed in 2019 and was redeveloped for housing.
These days political campaigns are as likely to target local voters on social media as through the columns of regional newspapers or local radio or television, where cutbacks mean far fewer journalists having to cover larger areas.
According to the Charitable Journalism Project, there are probably fewer local newspapers in Britain now than at any time since the 18th century, and the number continues to decline: more than 320 local titles closed between 2009 and 2019 as local newspaper advertising revenue fell 70% between 2010 and 2020.
Trowbridge was one of seven places including Whitby in North Yorkshire and Lewisham in London analysed in depth in 2022 by the Charitable Journalism Project in a report on local news deserts in Britain. It described the collapse in reporting as a "slow-burning crisis". Its report found Facebook pages were increasingly supplanting local papers. It noted that Trowbridge had a population of more than 45,000 and more than 31,000 people were in a single Facebook group, Spotted in Trowbridge. It now has 38,000 followers posting on topics from job requests to crime.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin June 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin June 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
![Is waxwork target man Ronaldo really Portugal's best hope?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/3Fiuf22A_1719986939062/IS-WAXWORK-TARGET-MAN-RONALDO-REALLY-PORTUGALS-BEST-HOPE.jpg)
Is waxwork target man Ronaldo really Portugal's best hope?
Pandering to their talisman, however watchable heis, hasbecomea hindrance tothe team’s chances
![Demiral's double delight as Turkey seal last-eight place](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/SwCKqL7PR1719986824208/DEMIRALS-DOUBLE-DELIGHT-AS-TURKEY-SEAL-LASTEIGHT-PLACE.jpg)
Demiral's double delight as Turkey seal last-eight place
A tie that had promised noise, tempo and a rattling intensity delivered emphatically.
![Bellingham's alpha energy is part of England's problem](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/pIpi83B_e1719986614595/BELLINGHAMS-ALPHA-ENERGY-IS-PART-OF-ENGLANDS-PROBLEM.jpg)
Bellingham's alpha energy is part of England's problem
While Uefa looks at player's crotch-grabbing celebration, Gareth Southgate must harness his winning instincts
![Inflation in the eurozone eases but ECB likely to keep interest rates on hold](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/Sd47rRjMh1719986493132/INFLATION-IN-THE-EUROZONE-EASES-BUT-ECB-LIKELY-TO-KEEP-INTEREST-RATES-ON-HOLD.jpg)
Inflation in the eurozone eases but ECB likely to keep interest rates on hold
Inflation across the eurozone slowed to 2.5% in June despite lingering pressure on households from price increases in the service sector, leaving the European Central Bank on track to keep interest rates on hold this month.
![Khan Younis IDF bombards ruined city and orders residents to evacuate](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/j-C9x50pj1719986381190/KHAN-YOUNIS-IDF-BOMBARDS-RUINED-CITY-AND-ORDERS-RESIDENTS-TO-EVACUATE.jpg)
Khan Younis IDF bombards ruined city and orders residents to evacuate
Thousands of Palestinians were fleeing Khan Younis in southern Gaza after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) once again bombarded the largely ruined city and ordered a mass evacuation of residents.
![Orbán holds talks with Zelenskiy in first visit to Ukraine in a decade](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/muI2DMBTK1719986310311/ORBN-HOLDS-TALKS-WITH-ZELENSKIY-IN-FIRST-VISIT-TO-UKRAINE-IN-A-DECADE.jpg)
Orbán holds talks with Zelenskiy in first visit to Ukraine in a decade
Hungary's prime minister, an outspoken critic of western aid to Ukraine, has held talks with Volodomyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, during a surprise visit by Europe's most pro-Russia leader to the Ukrainian capital.
![Manchester graduate who sold Viagra-style drugs online is jailed](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/qULWrMUel1719986229800/MANCHESTER-GRADUATE-WHO-SOLD-VIAGRASTYLE-DRUGS-ONLINE-IS-JAILED.jpg)
Manchester graduate who sold Viagra-style drugs online is jailed
A University of Manchester graduate has been jailed for three and a half years for importing and selling illegal medicines on eBay and Amazon.
![Labour donor sues Guido Fawkes blog owner for libel over Hamas claim](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/IPzSk0SfT1719984763428/LABOUR-DONOR-SUES-GUIDO-FAWKES-BLOG-OWNER-FOR-LIBEL-OVER-HAMAS-CLAIM.jpg)
Labour donor sues Guido Fawkes blog owner for libel over Hamas claim
The Labour donor Dale Vince has employed a new legal approach to sue the political blog Guido Fawkes for libel, despite the website being hosted overseas.
![Public asked to monitor decline in blackbirds](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/Sbx3aNKS_1719984665078/PUBLIC-ASKED-TO-MONITOR-DECLINE-IN-BLACKBIRDS.jpg)
Public asked to monitor decline in blackbirds
Beloved of Shakespeare and the Beatles, the blackbird and its sweet song have captured the imagination of Britons for centuries.
![Chess prodigy, nine, is youngest player to be picked for England](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1753296/cCI2-oMcv1719984587646/CHESS-PRODIGY-NINE-IS-YOUNGEST-PLAYER-TO-BE-PICKED-FOR-ENGLAND.jpg)
Chess prodigy, nine, is youngest player to be picked for England
She is a nine-year-old prodigy who has already caused a commotion in the chess world with her fearless play and spectacular victories.