Local journalism matters. It informs communities, holds power to account, and strengthens democracy. But producing accurate, ethical and timely news isn’t free. In fact, it takes more time, expertise and money than many people realise.
At Progress Publishing, home to the Bedford Independent and the Bedford Clanger, we live that reality every day.
Our two titles serve different audiences in different ways, but both are built on the same principle: to deliver trusted, independent journalism that’s focused on Bedford Borough.
But what is the cost of making that happen, why is support so important, and how can readers help keep local journalism alive?
What it really costs to run a newsroom
At full strength, we estimate it would take around £250,000 a year to run Progress Publishing sustainably.
That would cover four full-time staff members (across editorial and commercial), freelance contributions, editing, website hosting, insurance, administration, photo licensing, production support, and other overheads.
That figure is similar to estimates from other small and independent publishers across the UK. But like many, we don’t earn enough to reach that level.
Instead, we make it work through second jobs, volunteering, and the sacrifice of a considerable amount of personal time from our small and passionate team.
We do it because we believe Bedford deserves professional, independent journalism. However, to continue doing so, we need support.
Digital may be leaner, but it’s not free
The Bedford Independent is digital-first. That helps keep some costs down – we don’t pay to print or distribute a daily paper.
However, digital publishing still carries significant expenses, including web hosting, security, design, subscriptions, editing time, and infrastructure, all of which add up.
We’re also at the mercy of tech platforms. Social media is vital for reaching readers, but our posts can be restricted or removed by algorithms.
Meta (Facebook), for example, has been criticised for wrongly blocking legitimate news from regulated local publishers, including those like us, labelling it spam by mistake.
To bypass this risk, we encourage readers to sign up for our daily email. It’s a direct connection, unaffected by changes to tech platforms, and helps make sure people see the stories that matter.
Subscribe to our daily news email – no spam, no promotions, just news!
While digital works well for the Bedford Independent, the Bedford Clanger, however, continues to thrive in both print and online formats.
While generally printed publications are disappearing or reducing their circulation due to rising costs and smaller readerships, as a culture and community publication, the Clanger is thriving as a go-to guide designed to be picked up in shops, cafés and public spaces.
The Clanger’s print edition helps us reach people who may not follow the news online, while also giving local businesses that ‘stock it’ a chance to support other local companies, community organisations, and Bedford Borough as a whole.
Together, the two titles complement each other, serving the Borough with different strengths, but shared values.
An outdated public notice system
One traditional source of income for local newspapers is public notices. These are statutory announcements, such as planning applications, road closures, licensing requests, and consultations, that councils are legally required to publish.
These notices are intended to keep residents informed about decisions that affect their community.
Read: Fed up Bedfordians deserve urgent update to planning process
But the system hasn’t kept pace with how people access news. Most public notices must still be published in print newspapers, even though print circulation has plummeted in many areas.
As a result, millions of people may miss vital local information simply because it’s only being printed in papers that are no longer widely read.
At the same time, digital-only outlets like the Bedford Independent, which are regulated, accountable, and reach tens of thousands of local readers every week, are excluded from carrying these notices.
It’s a system that prioritises tradition over effectiveness, and it’s costing taxpayers money too. Councils continue to spend large sums on print notices that may no longer offer value for money or genuine public reach.
The Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) has been campaigning for reform.
They argue that the definition of a ‘newspaper’ must be updated to reflect the digital age, one in which online-only publishers are often the primary source of local information for many communities.
Reforming the public notice system wouldn’t just modernise local democracy. It would also create a fairer funding landscape for independent publishers, who work hard to keep the public informed, often with limited access to these revenue streams.
Until this changes, digital-first outlets like ours are penalised for being modern, even while we’re connecting more local people with more local stories than many of the print titles still eligible for public notices.
Read: DCMS Committee warns Government must act to halt decline of local journalism
Diversifying our income
At Progress Publishing, we believe that sustainable, independent journalism is a shared effort. That’s why we launched our Patrons scheme, a way for individuals and organisations to directly support our work and demonstrate their commitment to local news.
We’re incredibly grateful to our current Patrons, who currently include:
Their much-appreciated support helps us continue reporting on local politics, community stories, public services, culture, and more, content that may not be click-driven but is vital to Bedford Borough’s public life.
The Patrons scheme is not just a financial lifeline. It’s a statement of shared values: that accurate, ethical, independent journalism deserves to thrive, and that communities need access to information they can trust.
Patrons contribute through an annual subscription and, in return, receive a number of benefits.
Becoming a Patron is an investment in Bedford’s future. It’s a way for organisations and individuals to show that they care about transparency, accountability and community storytelling.
To find out more or to join, visit bedfordindependent.co.uk/patrons.
Independent journalism, public interest
Like other publishers, big and small, we run our titles because we believe that local journalism is a public service, not just a product.
But we don’t receive public funding and have no safety net. No big corporate owner is bankrolling us, yet every day we continue to:
- Investigate wrongdoing: from political decisions to community controversies, we ask the questions that need to be asked.
- Provide trusted, timely updates: during emergencies, breaking news or big local events, we’re there to inform the public quickly and accurately.
- Promote local culture, charities and events: through the Clanger, our What’s On guide, and day-to-day coverage, we shine a light on the positive stories that define Bedford.
- Platform stories you won’t read elsewhere: voices from across the Borough, underrepresented perspectives, and grassroots efforts often overlooked by larger outlets.
- Raise up our patch: we all want Bedford Borough to not only do well but be seen as the brilliant place it is to work, live and play. We achieve this by collaborating with local businesses and organisations to support one another’s work for the greater good.
This isn’t a business model built for massive profit. It’s built for a purpose, to inform, empower and connect the people of Bedford Borough. But this purpose-driven approach can’t survive on goodwill alone.
It only works if people believe that independent, responsible, local journalism is worth supporting.
Read: Why press regulation matters: How it helps protect trust in journalism
Every time someone shares a story, signs up for our newsletter, advertises with us, becomes a Patron, or recommends us to others, it sends a powerful message that factual, fair, and fearless reporting still matters.
And in a time of rising misinformation, unregulated publications and vanishing local titles, that kind of belief can help keep trusted news alive.
Quality journalism isn’t cheap, but losing it costs more
What readers can do
Supporting local news doesn’t always mean donating, although that helps too; it can look like:
- Advertising with a regulated local news source
- Signing up for our email newsletter
- Sharing stories that matter
- Encouraging others to read us
- Challenging misinformation
- Becoming a Patron
Every action helps. Every share counts. Every subscription strengthens the future of independent news.
If everyone who read and valued a Bedford Independent article last month gave the price of a coffee, we’d be a long way towards sustainability.
Not just surviving, but growing, investing in better tools, covering more stories, and creating more opportunities for the local journalists of the future.
Donate to support responsible, regulated and independent journalism in Bedford Borough
Because local news isn’t just about headlines, it’s about people, your neighbours, councillors, campaigners, carers and community champions. It’s about the streets you walk, the parks you visit, the schools, venues, and voices that make Bedford what it is.
And it’s about public service, making sure those in power are held accountable, misinformation is challenged, and essential information reaches everyone who needs it.
This kind of journalism doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people believe it’s worth something. And that belief in facts, fairness and local storytelling is what keeps responsible independent news alive.
That’s why your support, at any level, is more than appreciated. It’s essential.
