The Bristol Cable

The Bristol Cable is a member-owned, cooperative news organization based in Bristol, UK, founded in 2014. Created in response to the decline of locally accountable journalism, the Cable was built by community members who wanted a news outlet owned not by shareholders or media conglomerates, but by readers themselves. From the outset, its model has centered on democratic ownership: members pay a small monthly fee and receive voting rights in the cooperative’s governance.

Editorially, The Bristol Cable focuses on investigative reporting, accountability journalism, and in-depth coverage of issues affecting Bristol and the surrounding region. Its reporting often examines housing, policing, migration, environmental justice, and local government—areas where national media coverage is limited but local impact is significant. The publication is known for taking time with stories, prioritizing depth and community engagement over rapid-fire news cycles.

The Cable operates with a small core staff supported by freelancers and volunteers, and it publishes both online and in print, distributing a free quarterly newspaper across the city. Content is free to access, reflecting its commitment to public-interest journalism, while revenue comes primarily from member contributions, supplemented at times by grants and philanthropic support.

At its core, The Bristol Cable represents an alternative model for local journalism: cooperative, community-accountable, and explicitly designed to redistribute power in media ownership. Its structure and mission reflect a broader movement seeking sustainable, locally rooted solutions to the collapse of traditional regional news.