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<p>The Government acknowledges the value the ‘Institute for Public Interest News’,
proposed by Dame Frances Cairncross in her Review, is intended to achieve, in bringing
different initiatives together in order to amplify their impact, and acting as a channel
for collaboration. However, the Government recognises the concerns of many in the
publishing industry regarding the inherent challenge an organisation with such a purpose
will face in defining what qualifies as ‘public interest’ news, and what might therefore
be deserving of support. It is not for the Government to define what qualifies as
'public interest' news. While any institute would be at arm’s length from the Government,
we recognise concerns that even an arm’s length relationship risks perceptions of
inappropriate Government interference with the press. The Government has therefore
decided that it is not for the Government to take the recommendation forward.</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>There are a number of existing initiatives set up by the industry
in this area, for example, the Google News Initiative, Facebook’s Community News Project,
the Public Interest News Foundation set up by Impress, and the BBC’s proposed Local
Democracy Foundation — with more potentially under development across the sector.
Parts of the sector have shown a desire to help share approaches and best practice.
It remains open for the sector to support the existing initiatives or form others
as they see fit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Notwithstanding that it is not for
the Government to play a role in leading or designing an institution, there are some
challenges and functions that Dame Frances envisaged as potentially being undertaken
by an institute that the Government is minded to support through other routes. A key
function where we see a potential role for Government to support is the funding of
research into news provision and its impact on communities. The Government has recently
put out an invitation to tender for research to support policy development on news
sustainability and will continue to explore how it can commission further research
into these areas, to provide a solid evidence base for future policy interventions.</p><p>
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