Local media needs support if devolution push is to succeed, publishers say

Shift from Westminster risks weakening scrutiny as regional titles battle hostility, big tech and ‘news deserts’ Greater support for local media is needed to hold mayors and councils to account under Andy Burnham’s plans for devolution, which would involve a massive transfer of power into local government, publishers have said. A range of figures involved with local news broadly welcomed new plans unveiled by the prime minister, but said that monetising content, barriers erected by populist…