To mark Indie News Week 2026, Wokingham Today and Reading Today is hosting a “Meet the Team” event on Tuesday, June 16, between 10am and 12 noon.
The event will take place at its offices at 57F Peach Street, Wokingham, and the team would love to see you.
Come and say hello, there’s no need to book, and join us for coffee, tea and biscuits. You can meet the team behind the area’s only independent news organisation, learn how we operate, and ask anything you’d like to know.
What is Indie News Week?
Indie News Week is a celebration of independent news, with community events run online and in-person by independent news outlets across the UK.
Throughout the week, participating outlets across the country will host a mix of events from guided walks and quiz nights to podcasts, panel discussions and community debates. The campaign gives communities an opportunity to meet the people behind their independent news outlets,, and what goes into accurately covering their stories.
Communities will also be able to share the stories that matter to them, with the journalists that belong to and are deeply invested in their local area.
This year is shaping up to be a defining year for the future of independent news. From debates around public notices in parliament, and the BBC charter renewal process, to growing concerns around AI, media ownership and the power of big tech, the landscape is changing quickly.
Why does it matter?
More than four million people in the UK live in “news deserts” – areas with little or no access to reliable local reporting. Without trusted information, communities struggle to engage meaningfully in local life, challenge decisions, or share their stories. Independent news outlets are stepping up to fill the gaps left by shrinking traditional media, despite declining advertising revenue and the growing dominance of big tech platforms. They strengthen democracy, create pride in place, and foster civic participation — often with limited resources.
No news is bad news
Mainstream news providers, owned by billionaires, overseas shareholders, and hedge funds, have had a lot of bad press in recent years. And for good reason.
Unlike them, we at Wokingham Today and Reading Today do not work for a corporate bottom line. We work for you. To keep doing this, we need your support to help Indie news survive and thrive.
