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I spent yesterday morning down the docks – at City Hall – for a gathering of 30 independent news publishers, all of whom cover London, or focus on hyperlocal chunks of it.

It was a rare, shared moment to compare battle scars and coping strategies from the coalface of underfunded local media. It also served as a reminder that producing this stuff each week, (even if it’s predominantly culture/place-focused as opposed to investigative news, as is the case here at Camdenist) really is going to be more important than ever in a post-truth, zero trust, ‘Trump White House: Season 2’ world.

That’s not to say that someone from the Mayor’s office swept downstairs to announce they’d earmarked millions to support the city’s struggling ecosystem of voices holding power to account, but it was noted that healthy local media should be seen as a non-negotiable public good.

Or rather, the vacuum created by a dwindling local media provision, filled by the free-speech-free-for-all of social media, can produce some very, very bad outcomes indeed.

Public interest journalism field strategist, Sameer Padania, spoke of the need to see local level news reporting as part of a ‘Universal Basic Infrastructure’, and our publications as key levers in this; not just as tools to help communities make sense of their daily lives, but as sources of trusted information within the maelstrom of hyper-commercial, AI/synthetic and malicious/coercive content that now swirls all around us.

And with coordinated attacks on science journalists already pointing towards the ultra-hostile media environment that’s festering out there, the transnational network of far right agitators already have London and its journos squarely in their sights.

It doesn’t take much these days for a protest about a badly-conceived Low Traffic Neighbourhood to spiral into a platform for all kinds of hate-filled ideologies. The need to create a counterbalance to unchecked disinformation and misinformation at a local level really is being left in the hands of poorly paid enthusiasts, but with Trump not shy of laying in to Sadiq Khan, and Elon Musk constantly slamming Keir Starmer to his 206m followers, these global issues are very much knocking - loudly - on our local-level doors here in London.

Richard Osley of Camden New Journal rightly pointed out that politicians love for using social media as the preferred mouthpiece to control their own narrative is only fueling the problem. But the clock really is ticking on some kind of top-level action to support local media now. If we lose it, because everyone is too enthrall to scrolling and happy to keep creating content that’s safely on-message to suit themselves rather than being questioned by reporters, the next generation of only-ever-digital voters might well boot them out of office in favour of something far more scary altogether.

On that dark note, it was at least positive to have so many passionate London indies in the same room, and there’s a feeling that change must now come after so many years of digital disruption destroying sustainable business models again and again.

Sadiq even popped his head in the room at the end, fresh and enthused from a morning out launching the new Overground line monikers. If he might now be tempted to focus a fraction of the kind of resource and will that’s gone into simplifying the orange lines on the TfL map, and point them towards strengthening the conditions for local media makers in the capital, then the breaking news on the broken news may well start to look overwhelmingly positive.

📊 This week's poll

While we’re on the topic of media sustainability, it was pointed out to me the other day that we really don’t shout about the options for paying to support Camdenist enough. That’s partly as a previous poll suggested the majority of readers would prefer a 100% free email for the whole community, supported by advertising rather than exclusive content or an annoying paywall.

Still, here’s info on how to support us in this way if you didn’t know you could.

And now to this week’s question:

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XMAS EVENTS

All (or most) of our Christmasses have come at once

🎄 It’s a big weekend out there for festive beanos, starting with the Kentish Town Rd Lighting Up on Sat 30th, 4-6pm. You’ll find special discounts from over 20 businesses and restaurants on the high street, plus a craft bazaar, storytelling and music from local classics the Camden Youth Brass, the Gospel Oak Choir and flower-stall-owner-turned-national-TV-star, Natasha Boon.

🐶 Then on Sunday, head to Regent’s Park Rd for the big Primrose Hill Christmas Festival, which will be chocka with craft stalls, a pop-up food market including de regur mulled wine, but also spiced apple run punch, wintery cocktails and tipsy hot chocs, too. There’s also live music, choir, trad fairground rides and the famous dog show, too.

🍻 Camden Beer Hall is being taken over by Go East Vintage this weekend Sat 30th Nov-Sun 1st Dec for a Winter Vintage Market under the Overground arches. Expect London’s top vintage curators bringing unique finds like clothing, bags, accessories, art, jewellery, midcentury furniture, ceramics, rugs and home decor treasures you won’t see anywhere else.

🎄 As you may have seen up on our quick Instagram Reel, last night saw the opening of Camden Market’s month of seasonal events and attractions, including some big choir shows, DJ performances in North Yard and various special offers and deals to enjoy. The proceedings were kicked off by bona fide local musical ledge, Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B OBE.

⛔ And if the pre-Christmas consumerist frenzy trying to get you to buy stuff today has all got a bit much, consider some art or upcycled fashion, which can be found at the F**k Black Friday Alterist X COAG Launch Party, tonight (Fri 29th) at Camden Open Air Gallery. You can get your clothes customised by the artists alongside flowing drinks and live music and DJs ‘till late.

MUSIC

🎵 Sounds of Detroit and Walthamstow

🎧 Detroit comes to London with the Jazz Cafe debut of the enigmatic Moodyman playing an extended DJ set tonight, Fri 29th Nov. It’s officially been sold out for ages, but a little bird tells us that a few last minute tix will be available on the door if you get there for the 10.30pm opening…

🎤 Sunday 1st Dec sees a special ‘20 years in the game’ party thrown by East London rapper Lethal Bizzle, on the anniversary of the release of his MOBO Award-winning single ‘Pow! (Forward)’, taking over HERE at Outernet.

🎶 The Arcane World of the Bass Opera Singer is celebrated courtesy of bass-baritone Robert Lloyd up in the stunning Victoria Hall at Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution the Wed 4th Dec.

🎸For a free night of live Americana, bluegrass, rootsy rock and country soul, join Emperor Norton’s Whiskey Symposium on Thurs 5th Dec at Tufnell Park’s iconic Aces & Eights Bar.

STAGE

🎭 Local Stoppard to Lady Macbeth

📖 A revival of Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love takes over the main space at Hampstead Theatre across the Christmas season, starting Wed 4th Dec for a limited seasonal run that’s just been extended until 1st Feb.

🎭 Head to Chalk Farm’s lovely Libra Theatre Cafe this Sat 30th Nov for Actors Open Stage, a relaxed evening of monologues , duologues and scenes by and for actors - got a new piece you’d like to try out? Or maybe you just want to practice in front of an audience? This is the place to do it!

🤣 Pay only a quid to see two top comics try out new material at the Top Secret Comedy Club in Drury Lane this Tues, 3rd Dec, as Ani Magliano and Will Owen drop new jokes from 6pm.

👑 Etcetera Theatre’s Gruoch is a feminist, myth-centred examination of the bereaved and abused girl who became Lady Macbeth as an act of revenge for the death of her father. This "icon of evil" may be the power behind the throne, but as the only woman left alive, her power is used to avenge. Tues 10th Dec.

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