Four new media organisations will manage Local Democracy Reporting Service contracts for the first time.
This follows the completion of a tendering process for the BBC-funded scheme, which started late last year.
The new companies are Baylis Media, Tindle Newspapers, Highland News & Media and Northampton community radio station NLive, which will be able to employ Local Democracy Reporters from July 1.
In total 15 different media organisations have been awarded at least one of the 118 contracts, which will initially run for 2 and a half years – until the end of the current BBC Charter.
“The result of this process means that every part of the country will be covered by a Local Democracy Reporter,” said Jason Gibbins, Editor, Local News Partnerships.
“The addition of four new contract holders is to be celebrated, and we look forward to them joining existing contract holders in their continued efforts to scrutinise the work of councils and other local public bodies across the UK.”
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The reporters are employed by hyperlocal, local and regional news organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They cover local council meetings, public service organisations and other democratic institutions.
Reach remains the largest partner in the scheme after being awarded 54 contracts to employ 83 reporters – 4 more than it currently employs. Newsquest has 26 contracts worth 36 roles, while National World will manage 17 contracts and 24 reporter posts.
Iliffe Media Group and DC Thomson will each manage 4 contracts from July onwards, with Iliffe increasing the share of Local Democracy Reporters it will employ from four to seven.
The BBC said that since the scheme’s inception at the start of 2018, it has produced more than more than 470,000 stories for publication by partner newsrooms.
