Independent News Forum 2023,

About the event

At the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF), we’re holding a major gathering of news providers from across the UK: the Independent News Forum. This year’s event will take place on Saturday 21 October at The Station in Bristol. The aim is to build relationships across the sector; share success stories; and agree on future priorities, so that these providers can go out and serve their communities with fantastic journalism for years to come. We would love to work with you to make this event possible, by covering the travel and accommodation costs of our participants. In this way, we can support communities across the UK and celebrate news providers who are standing up against misinformation and fake news.

Who are independent news providers? They are typically small non-profit organisations with a handful of staff and volunteers, working around the clock to inform and empower communities from Cornwall to Shetland and from Cardiff to Belfast. There are several hundred of these organisations across the UK, operating both in print and online. They reach millions of people, but they need more support to become sustainable.

What is PINF? We are the first registered charity in the UK to promote high-quality journalism. We believe that everyone in the UK should benefit from journalism that speaks to them, for them and with them. We began our work about three years ago, providing independent news organisations with grants, leadership development and networking opportunities, with a long-term goal of building a diverse and sustainable sector.

What is the Independent News Forum? We held the first Forum last year in Leeds and it was hugely popular among participants, who want to get together again to inspire and learn from each other. This year’s event will consist of a day of networking, presentations and brainstorming activities. We expect independent news leaders to attend from all corners of the UK, arriving on the Friday for dinner and leaving on the Saturday evening.

Why should you sponsor?

Most independent news organisations are run on a shoestring, so we’d like to be able to cover the travel and accommodation costs of up to 50 participants, with a focus on those from more diverse or under-represented backgrounds. With an average cost of £150 x 50 participants, we have set a budget of £7,500 for this.

We would be incredibly grateful for any support that you could provide towards this charitable initiative. In return for any funding, we would of course acknowledge your support, including with branding on the day and in promotional materials that would go out to news outlets across the UK.

I hope you agree that this project is relevant to your CSR priorities, and I hope you will consider making a contribution.

Jaldeep Katwala

We are the first registered charity in the UK to promote high-quality journalism. We believe that everyone in the UK should benefit from journalism that speaks to them, for them and with them. We began our work about three years ago, providing independent news organisations with grants, leadership development and networking opportunities, with a long-term goal of building a diverse and sustainable sector.

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