Dale Vince and the Camden New Journal staff

THE philanthropist Dale Vince has announced he is ready to inject investment into the Camden New Journal and our sister titles in a “rescue package” to protect the borough’s campaigning voice. The green entrepreneur’s intervention comes amid the punishing market conditions for local newspapers and he described it as a “new adventure in an old industry”.

“I greatly admire the journalism at the Camden New Journal series and want to do everything in my power to help secure the future of the journalists who go above and beyond to ensure London is properly served with news that has campaigning and investigative reporting at its heart,” said Mr Vince, who founded the Ecotricity green energy company. Providing news and information is an expensive business and I hope individuals and advertisers will join me in efforts to ensure the CNJ’s long-term existence and meet the needs of its digital readers.”

His interest has been compared to his rescue of Forest Green Rovers football club, which was at risk of going out of business until he offered financial support. The New Journal will still need to bring in advertising and subscriptions to ensure its future.

Mr Vince said: “This isn’t just a rescue mission it’s bigger than that, we believe in local journalism, in local papers – in young journalists – and we want to knit all of this together, starting with the incredible CNJ. The staff are as exceptional as the paper, it’s a rare privilege to meet people as committed and dedicated, knowledgable and energetic as they are.

“These guys blew me away when I met them, no less than that. That made we want to help, to be a part and to create something together.”

The newspapers will retain the independent spirit which has served the titles since the formation of the New Journal 1982 – born out of industrial action to save the newspaper. Eric Gordon founded and served as the editor for 39 years until his death in 2021. Richard Osley has been the editor for the past five years.

The newspaper’s structure has been based on covering the costs of producing informative, challenging and campaigning journalism – with no shareholders to please or big bonuses to executives in far away offices. Every penny that is raised has gone back into producing what you see every week.

Mr Osley said: “Our discussions with Dale and his team have opened up an exciting opportunity to protect what we do and expand our contribution. That includes the hope of creating more opportunities for reporters from under-represented backgrounds, building our capacity for investigations, and strengthening our online offering – more stories, more scrutiny. We’d like to be an inspiration to local journalists around the country who have the drive to hold power to account.

“The papers will still need the support of our loyal readership, and those who see the importance of journalism. Our readers are never short of constructive feedback, and that has been a huge part of our success. They keep us on our toes and contribute with everything from lively letters to the editor for publication and story tips, to donations and subscriptions.

“Our staff would not enter a partnership lightly; we were not open to any offer – but we have seen that Dale’s team understand the importance of a more plural media landscape, and of creating spaces where local and national conversations can encompass wide-ranging views.”