Local news that matters
Exeter Observer is different. For the past five years our rigorous independent journalism has held power and influence in our city to account. We’ve had real-world impact while avoiding the failings of legacy local news business models to prove that reader-funded media can deliver the accountable public interest journalism our democracy needs.
We have scrutinised policy and decision-making, exposed misuse of public money and resources, examined key issues and organisations, championed open democracy and revealed information that would otherwise remain obscured.
We have leveraged transparency legislation and information access rights to hold public bodies to account, and kept external authorities informed so compliance failures are addressed and information and governance standards improved.
In the past twelve months alone we have published investigative features on:
- Planning committee conflicts of interest
- University of Exeter student numbers
- Student accommodation policy omissions, confusions and misrepresentations
- £1 million leisure services overspends
- Stagecoach South West’s struggle to keep buses on the road
- County Hall’s determination to axe homelessness prevention funding
- £1.3 million Co-Cars liquidation losses
- £4.5 million Exeter City Living losses
- University of Exeter fossil fuel financing
- Low Exeter economic activity levels
- The new Exeter Local Plan
- Exeter’s 3,100 vacant and empty second homes
- University of Exeter social mobility self-promotion following poor index rankings
- King Billy planning permission irregularities
- The sale of Clifton Hill sports centre and Mary Arches car park for co-living redevelopment
- An allotment fees hike aimed at clawing back cash from 1,500 city gardeners and growers
- High Court criticism of city and county councils in a judicial review judgement
- The Gorge standing 70% empty nearly six months after opening
- The Secretary of State overturning a council Environmental Impact Assessment decision
- £1+ million Wonford community hub project development costs
- Devon and Torbay devolution deal
- £50 million SEND deficit deal cuts
- The city auditor’s inquiry into Exeter City Futures and its ex-CEO secondment
- An Australian multinational profiting from the council community lottery.
We have engaged and enraged decision-makers and others in leadership roles as well as those behind the scenes with influence over issues which affect us all.
At the same time we have empowered civil society and public sphere participants by equipping them with information for action in the forums to which they have access.
Exeter Observer’s growing reputation as a public interest champion has also been reflected in an increasing number of readers seeking support with issues they have been unable to address via other avenues.
More about Exeter Observer
- A new kind of independent news organisation
- Distribution & promotion
- Democracy doesn't work when people don't know
- Legacy local news
- Exeter media in perspective
- Local news that matters
- References
Exeter Observer is published by Exeter Observer Limited, Community Benefit Society No. 8435 registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Our registered address is St Sidwell’s Community Centre, Sidwell Street, Exeter EX4 6NN.