Online Journalism News

BBC will link from local news sites to competitors

The BBC is to introduce more online links to other local media from its news websites, the corporation's executive has said.

The newstracker feature, which on the main news site includes links to relevant external content, will now link to other local media from BBC Local news sites.

The corporation is also experimenting with in-video linking to other local video providers, it said in its response to the BBC Trust's provisional conclusion on its local video plans released today.

Following a criticism raised in the Trust's review of bbc.co.uk last year, the BBC will attempt to be more of a 'trusted guide' to content online, the executive said.

Potential video syndication partnerships and training collaborations with local media are still being considered, the release said. Opportunities for training local newspapers in shooting and video editing skills, will be sought in particular.

The executive has also suggested increasing local sports coverage, creating a local network of government correspondents and increasing the number of journalists in Dorset and Cheshire to improve local news provision across all platforms.

The proposed changes are an attempt to improve existing local news services, as recommended by the Trust in its provisional rejection of the executive's local video plans in November, confirmed in an official conclusion today.

Formal proposals will be submitted by the executive for consideration by the Trust later this year, with the £68 million intended for the local video plans 'ring fenced pending any new proposals', the Trust said.

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