13 Mar 2025
St Albans associate minister Rev Peter Crumpler has called on churches across the UK to support the nation’s growing industry of independent news providers.
Writing for Church Times, Peter highlighted the crisis facing mainstream news providers as the migration of advertising to big-tech companies such as Facebook and Google, rising costs, and readers moving from print to online news consumption have sounded the death knell for many titles.
But he also highlighted the positive growth of new independent outlets that offer hope for the sector’s future, and called on churches and other faith groups to play a key part in supporting these new media titles, as their journalists seek to encourage community life and hold power to account.
Peter, who ministers at St Paul’s Church in Fleetville, said: “On my doorstep, the St Albans Times, an independent online current-affairs magazine, celebrated its 100th weekly edition at the end of December. The Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, thanked the publication ‘for bringing to our attention the problems and challenges of our district, as well as celebrating our local successes’.
“Funded by advertising and donations, the St Albans Times, since its launch in February 2023, has transformed the media scene in and around the cathedral city.
“I have supported the project from day one and helped to develop close co-operation between the publication and churches. The venture has been pioneered by the experienced regional journalist Matt Adams, who has profiled church leaders, included articles written by them, and carried listings of Christmas and Easter church services.
“The publication has also, rightly, carried criticism and challenging coverage of church activities, including issues at Soul Survivor, based near by in Watford.”
Quoted in the article, editor Matt Adams said: “Churches and other faith groups are active community organisations with roots deep into our local area. We see building links with them as a key part of our news-gathering.”
Peter added: “The landscape of local journalism is changing fast. There is ample scope for churches to support these developments, and to play their part in enhancing local democracy and in helping grass-roots initiatives to thrive. It will be churches’ loss if they ignore the opportunity.”
