J-Lab Episode 46: Reimagining local news, with Jim Waterson of London Centric

Jim Waterson is former media editor at The Guardian and now the publisher of London Centric, which covers politics, business and life in the UK capital via a fast-growing Substack newsletter as well as TikTok videos. After years reporting on national media, Jim made a striking decision: to step away from one of the most influential journalism jobs in Britain and try to build something new — a reader-funded local news operation focused on London. London Centric combines deep investigations with explainers and features about the city — and it’s built around a simple idea: that a core of paying subscribers can support ambitious reporting that might otherwise struggle to survive in the digital advertising economy. In our conversation, we ask Jim what local journalism looks like in 2026 — what works, what doesn’t, and what opportunities might exist for the next generation of local news reporters. To read Jim’s reporting or subscribe to the newsletter, visit londoncentric.media while his TikToks are @JimWaterson J-Lab is the podcast from Newcastle University’s Civic Journalism Lab — where we explore how journalism is evolving and what it means for the next generation of reporters.