The Leicester News Innovation Lab is a Soar Sound CIC project bringing together community media, local publishers and volunteers to strengthen local news and information across Leicester. It builds on local knowledge and relationships, helping people share stories about the places and communities they know.
Our Funding
The project is funded by the UK Government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Local News Fund, with support from Decentered Media and Maxxwave.
Our Purpose
The Lab will develop community reporting skills through practical training, mentoring and collaboration. We’ll explore ways to gather, verify and share stories about everyday life, local services, heritage, culture and civic activity, helping more people contribute to local media.
We’ll also test shared production resources and responsible uses of artificial intelligence, including transcription and translation, with people retaining editorial responsibility. We’ll share what we learn to help community media develop sustainable approaches to local reporting.
Further information about training, activities and opportunities to get involved will be added here as the project develops.
