The BBC is initiating a fresh tendering process for its Local Democracy Reporting Service, which starts in July 2025.
- The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) involves 165 journalists in commercial newsrooms, enhancing local news by holding local authorities accountable.
- Inception of LDRS in 2017, after extensive planning, has resulted in more than 440,000 stories across over 1,100 news outlets.
- The new tender process for managing reporter contracts opens on December 2, with successful applicants to be announced by April 2025.
- A noteworthy one-time funding increase of 6.5% takes effect from July 2025, addressing inflation and salary concerns for reporters.
The BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is embarking on a new tendering process to continue its role in supporting local journalism. This initiative, which funds a network of 165 journalists based in commercial newsrooms, plays a critical role in scrutinizing the operations of local authorities throughout the United Kingdom. By launching this new tender process, the BBC aims to ensure that the service continues to facilitate accountability in local governance.
Since its launch in 2017, the LDRS has been a significant contributor to local journalism, producing over 440,000 stories for more than 1,100 different news outlets. This has been achieved through a collaborative approach with the media industry across the UK, providing essential news coverage to print, broadcast, and online platforms without charge. The LDRS is central to the BBC’s mission to deliver trusted, independent, and impartial news to all audiences.
Jason Horton, Director of BBC Local, highlighted the importance of the LDRS in addressing current challenges within the news industry. “We recognize that there are critical challenges facing the news industry today and we are determined to play our part in addressing them. The LDRS is an important part of how we can do this,” he stated. This commitment is reflected in the tendering of 118 contracts, where up to three reporters may be employed under each contract.
An impending 6.5% funding increase from July 2025 will address inflationary pressures that have affected salary levels. Historically, funding and salaries have seen an annual increase of 1.5%, but this adjustment comes in response to findings from an NUJ Freedom of Information request. This request revealed disparities in pay, with some reporters earning as low as £16,998 annually, despite publishers receiving substantial financial support from the BBC per reporter role.
The new contracts, available to existing news organizations with access to LDRS content, are expected to foster continuity and improvement in local reporting quality. The award of these contracts will be announced in April 2025, with the new term beginning on July 1 and running for two and a half years, aligning with the current BBC Charter timeline.
This new tender process marks a key step in bolstering local journalism, promising greater financial support and continued accountability in local governance.
