Independent journalism for Medway
No clickbait. No endless advertising. Just original reporting, investigations, interviews and analysis covering the stories that shape Medway.
Every week we publish two free email editions: a big original story every Tuesday and a Friday briefing that brings together the week’s biggest news, planning, events, and more.
A better way to do local news
We reject the idea that local journalism has to mean clickbait headlines, endless advertising, and rewriting press releases.
We’d rather publish fewer stories and make them worth your time than chase every passing headline.
Our journalism is funded almost entirely by our readers. That independence allows us to focus on the stories that matter rather than the ones most likely to generate clicks. We think Medway deserves ambitious, independent journalism, and that’s what we’re trying to build.
What you'll receive
Every free subscriber receives:
- A major original story every Tuesday.
- A Friday briefing covering the biggest stories from across Medway, alongside planning, culture, events and more.
- Access to our growing library of free journalism.
- Occasional updates about our reporting and events.
If you enjoy what you read, you can also become a member.
Members unlock every story we publish, receive additional interviews and essays throughout the week, and help fund independent journalism in Medway.
Who we are
Local Authority was founded by Ed Jennings and Steven Keevil.
Long before launching the publication in 2021, we spent our evenings sitting through council meetings, live-posting local politics online, and discovering there was far more happening in Medway than anyone was reporting.
Eventually, we decided to stop complaining about local journalism and start building the kind of publication we wanted to read.
Since then, Local Authority has become one of Kent’s leading independent news organisations. Our journalism reaches more than 45,000 readers each month and is read by politicians, public officials, business owners, journalists, campaigners, artists and thousands of Medway residents who simply want better local news.
Selected recognition
Since launching in 2021, Local Authority has been recognised repeatedly for its journalism, including:
- Winner, Kent News Website of the Year, 2023
- Winner, Columnist of the Year, 2023
- Highly Commended, Story of the Year, 2026
- Highly Commended, Print & Online Journalist of the Year, 2024
- Finalist, Kent News Website of the Year, 2024, 2025 and 2026
We’ve also been recognised by the A Better Medway Awards, Rainbows Over Medway Awards and Pride in Medway.
New here? Start with these.
Ed Jennings
Steven Keevil
Ed Jennings
What readers say
“Heroic and trailblazing .. doing a great job filling the gap left by legacy media across its coverage of local politics, planning, culture and well, everything else you’d want from a local news publication.” - James O’Malley
“Better than the Observer and cheaper too.” - Medway Council Leader Vince Maple
“Informative and funny! .. If you live in Medway and aren't reading Ed's weekly email you're missing out.” - Carl Jeffrey
“The first one was quite okay.” - Ed’s mum
Support independent journalism
Thousands of readers receive Local Authority for free. Our members go further.
Membership unlocks every story we publish, along with our exclusive interviews, essays and events. More importantly, it directly funds original reporting that holds power to account and tells the stories that matter across Medway.
Membership costs £6 per month or £60 per year.
Our standards
Local Authority adheres to the Standards Code adopted by Impress, which serves as the independent regulator of our work. If you wish to make a complaint about anything we have published, you can find details of how to do so here.
Get in touch
Have a story tip, feedback, or just want to say hello?
hello@localauthority.news
Local Authority is published by Authority Media Ltd, Valiant Suite, Second Chance Community Centre, Brompton Hill, Chatham, ME4 4XL.