Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has welcomed a new scheme intended to bring Government advertising to digital-only local publishers such as Nub News.

Mr Afolami's reaction comes after ministers announced a new project which could result in Government advertising being channelled to digital-only local publishers.

As reported in industry bible Hold The Front Page this week, Rishi Sunak's Government has published its response to the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee's review into the sustainability of local journalism.

The dossier revealed the Cabinet Office is developing a pilot with hyperlocal network Nub News to 'test its value as an advertising channel'.

As HTFP reported, the move comes after the Committee found larger regional publishers were "taking a disproportionate share of available support" to the local news sector and called for "an audit of public money that supports local news and an analysis of whether this could be distributed more fairly".

Hitchin MP Bim Afolami welcomes news

Speaking to Hitchin Nub News on Friday (May 19), Mr Afolami welcomed the announcement, saying: "It is welcome news that the Cabinet Office is working to develop a Government advertising presence on Nub News.

"In Hitchin, we have seen the value that Nub News can bring to a community with high quality reporting and a growing readership.

"In an age of growing digital media, we must ensure that we take advantage of the opportunities that that brings and I look forward to seeing this develop."

The review, at which Nub News chief executive Karl Hancock gave evidence, had urged the Government to examine whether the money could be more fairly distributed and better used to promote innovation.

The Government said: "The Cabinet Office is currently developing a pilot with Nub News (a network of more than 50 small, online-only local news outlets including Hitchin Nub News and Letchworth Nub News) to test its value as an advertising channel after the local elections, working closely with them to ensure their platform and reporting capability meet the standard necessary for the government to advertise on their platform."