‘A city known for being so incredibly culture-rich needs independent journalism’

Imagine you’re the lead singer in an up and coming band. Or a painter putting on their first exhibition. Or even a local club promoter looking to put on their first night. There’s arguably nothing more important than getting the word out. If nobody knows that you’re putting on a show, then nobody is going to turn up. And if one thing is for certain, it’s that nobody definitely doesn’t make for great company.

There are, of course, plenty of ways to get eyes on you and your event/venue/exhibition/just about anything else. Social media, paid advertising, even putting up posters around town, to name a few.

The thing about all of these methods, however, is that you often find yourself casting a wide net, when in many cases, what you really need is more of a spear – or at least a smaller net. That’s where independent journalism comes in. And it’s in danger.

When people come to us for culture and events journalism, they know what to expect: honest recommendations for things around the city that we feel our audience will genuinely enjoy.

As we’re all aware – or at least you should be – the media landscape has changed unbelievably dramatically over the last 20 years. It’s hard to really remember, but around the turn of the century, they released this thing called “the internet”, and whilst we all thought it was a fad that was bound to blow over, it seems to have revolutionised the very nature of how we interact with and consume journalism.

If we don’t act today, then the very fate of independent journalism hangs in the balance. What this would mean, realistically, would be another win for the big cats. It would be so much harder for any indie venues, bands or anyone creating art/culture off their own back to get seen and be given a platform. And with the last two years in mind, the last thing we need is another blow to the creative industry.

A Bristol stripped of its indie venues, of its artists creating work out of their own pockets, of its collectives and groups of inspirational people looking to push the envelope further forward, certainly isn’t the Bristol that I moved to in 2018. And it’s not the Bristol I want to see left behind.

I hate to sound like a charity appeal, but genuinely, for only £5 a month, you can be part of saving this vital resource for independent culture in this city. A city known for being so incredibly culture-rich needs independent journalism in order to maintain such richness.

So, if you love Bristol and its culture anywhere near as much as I do, please consider subscribing. Oh, and did I mention you get free pints and donuts at some of Bristol’s top eat/drinkeries? I probably should’ve put that at the top…

Find out more about becoming a member.

Miles Arnold is Bristol24/7’s What’s on Writer. He joined Bristol24/7 on the Kickstart scheme in January 2022 and is an incredibly passionate advocate and member of Bristol’s culture scene.

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