06 News upon Tyne


Gerry Hunwick, Newcastle NUJ Branch secretary, reports on how the North-east media adapted to the situation and won praise for their efforts


A


s trust in mainstream media reportedly falls to new lows, Newcastle Upon Tyne’s local media


outlets have experienced reassuring feedback from their audiences that local news maters. Te 23 March suspensions


heralded new ways of doing things for media workers in the city, both paid and volunteer, just as one of the biggest news stories affecting everyone’s lives was breaking. TV, radio, online and print have all been affected, by staff shortages due to sickness or self-isolation, budget cuts, inability to work from usual bases, social distancing, learning curves with unfamiliar technology or simply not being able to interview people as in pre-pandemic days. Almost overnight we had to find a brand-new way of working while still maintaining all local news broadcasting to a high standard, one ITV employee said. It had to be factual, clear, relatable, focused on local people, hold decision- makers to account and give an insight into the impact of policy decisions (such as in care homes). Seemingly, this has worked


well for ITV, which reported a 20


per cent national increase in viewing figures for locally-programmed news since March. Tis has all been achieved despite staff missing out on bonuses because of a slump in advertising revenue. “Couldn’t be prouder of my team for the way they have worked through the coronavirus crisis to keep our viewers informed,” said Michaela Byrne, head of news at ITV Tyne Tees & Border. At the BBC, things are litle


different. Tey too have experienced the same upheaval in working practices, but additionally budgets have been slashed and TV broadcasts such as the investigative


Inside Out and the weekly North East & Cumbria Sunday Politics show are off air. Staff are worried about the potential of losing this locally made programming permanently and fear the impact this might have on seeing the region reflected at national level. Metro Radio (part of the Bauer Media group broadcasting across the North east) has kept people updated with local news bulletins run by a skeleton staff and through adjusting programming to allow more local voices. Volunteer-run community radio has also risen to the challenge. “I would never have been able to have so many guests on my show” says Spice FM presenter Doc Anand, who feels that broadcasting from home using video-chat technology has made connecting with the local community easier. Te station has also reached out to vulnerable South east Asian communities, broadcasting health messages and government advice in Hindi and Urdu. In a sign that perhaps all audiences


were not being entirely catered for, one local arts group asking: “What’s really gannin’ on?” has produced a 40-page Lockdown Gazete, with plenty of graphics, activities, local information and a section on how to spot fake news. Local news maters. It’s an NUJ mantra, but one the Newcastle media have taken to their hearts in trying to produce timely, accurate, informative and entertaining


material for their different audiences during this time.


LOCAL NEWS


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