IFNC Challenges

Any group intending to collaborate to deliver a set of outputs must coordinate what they do effectively to deliver in a cost effective way, and the IFNCs are no exception.

Failure to adopt a coordinated operational model that transcends organisational boundaries is likely to result in rapid consumption of funding with little real improvement to local and regional News provision.

The IFNC pilot consortia are made up of large established media organisations, but also plan to enfranchise small start-ups, community-based groups and individuals. All these parties need to be brought together to operate in a coordinated way, leveraging their individual strengths to deliver a vibrant yet cost effective stream of local and regional output.

The leadership of the consortia clearly have a vital role in achieving this across a range of areas, including:

Addressing the cultural issues born of a history of competition that could undermine the benefits of bringing multiple media organisations together as an IFNC.

Setting objectives, and working with staff to define the planning, newsgathering and production processes that will allow effective, efficient operation across the consortium.

Defining roles and responsibilities so that staff are clear about the part they need to play.

Telling a compelling story which engages people in what has the potential to be an exciting new model for local and regional News provision.

Setting out what needs to be done and getting people enthusiastic about doing it is vital but it’s not sufficient. The whole thing needs to be bound together with timely, relevant, shared information - In order for an individual to “Do the right thing”, they need to know what others across the group are doing, or planning to do. Even if everybody involved is enthusiastically bought in to the future way of working, it will all unravel unless there is an easy to use core of shared information supporting it.