Stone implores government to protect trainee journalists

The MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and Liberal Democrat media spokesperson, Jamie Stone, has today written to the government asking for support for trainee journalists.

The call follows Meta's (formerly Facebook) announcement that it intends to cease funding for the Community News Project, which supports 100 trainee journalists across the UK. Over the past 5 years, Meta has contributed £13.5 million to ensuring the training of aspiring journalists with no previous experience in the sector and that recruitment enhances the diversity of local news teams.

This funding will be axed at the end of the year, meaning these trainees face their contracts being terminated unless newsrooms can create permanent roles for them at a time of unprecedented economic challenge in the local media landscape.

Commenting, Mr Stone said:

"The Community News Project has not only given many young people the opportunity to explore journalism as a career but has also improved local news through its focus on grassroots community issues.

"Without it, 17-year-old Iona MacDonald may not have been able to carry out the extraordinary work she has during her time as a trainee for Highland News and Media. Alongside her studies, Iona has worked on the SNP leadership contest and met with senior politicians, while also reporting on important issues that affect small communities in the Far North. Her work is a testament to the depth and breadth of the training she has received as a result of this funding.

"I have written to the government today to implore that support is put in place to protect these traineeships if Meta does go ahead with its decision to cease funding. I have also highlighted the importance of levelling the playing field between platforms and publishers in the upcoming Digital Markets, Consumers and Competitions Bill."