Local News & Independent Media

Local news reporting in the public interest is more important than ever. Not too long ago, local newspapers and radio stations were the lifeblood of communities, providing residents with information about local events, politics, and issues that directly affected their lives.

The intentional corporate consolidation of media by conglomerates, big tech and their billionaire-class backers has led to "news deserts" in many communities where local news has not survived. Local issues go unreported and residents are left uninformed. Communities are more vulnerable to misinformation/disinformation and malicious narratives seeking to divide people and erode the social fabric. A distracted and misinformed public benefits the financial interests of those who have used the technological revolution of the last few decades to consolidate power and wealth.

...but we're not the first to notice.

There's no point in reiterating the brilliant vision that the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) are already acting on. Learn more about their work at the following pages:

• About the PINF
• Local News Desert Map

What We're Building

branchLeft is building relationships with the PINF and its members to provide a platform and ecosystem tailored to the needs of public interest local news outlets in the UK. Initially built around Ghost, we're developing the technical infrastructure enabling:

Our Goal

We're building the tools needed to catalyse the revival of local news in the public interest in the UK. Because we're not seeking profit, when we build reusable and scalable infrastructure and patterns they can be shared cheaply to benefit all outlets that work with us.

Work With Us