Times Business

University backs TV news bid

2:28pm Friday 26th February 2010

DURHAM University is backing a heavyweight media consortium hoping to replace ITV news in the Tyne Tees and Borders region.

The university said it was supporting the bid led by ITN, which includes Newsquest North-East, publisher of the Durham Times.

The move lends more support to the Great North News group, which hopes to win the right to run an independently funded news consortium.

The Government recently announced the North-East would be one of three pilot areas for IFNCs, which it believes will secure the longterm future of regional television news and help provide a far more localised service.

Michael Lavery, from Durham University, said: “We are delighted to back the ITNled bid to deliver informative, engaging and dynamic news coverage.

“The consortium shares our vision for thought-provoking and pithy engagement with the public through an increasing number of media channels. Together, we look forward to contributing to a bright future for visual media in the North-East.”

The consortium also includes Johnston Press, the Metro Radio group and Sunderland University.

For more information about Great North News, visit www.greatnorthnews.co.uk, where you can have your say about how you want your area to be covered.

David Coates, the managing director of Newsquest North- East, said: “This is a great opportunity for our company to extend its journalistic reputation, built up over 140 years.”

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