Governance – NewsX

At NewsX we believe journalism is a public service, not a commodity. That means our governance must be as open and accountable as the work we produce.

Leadership

NewsX is a UK-registered Community Interest Company (CIC) [link to Companies House entry].

• Michael Leidig is currently the sole legal director, carrying responsibility for ensuring the vision first set out in 1995 — to make sustainable, scalable journalism a reality.
• As the organisation grows, a formal board of directors will be created, covering 10 key departments. These directors will help shape the code, identity, and principles of NewsX.

In the long term, NewsX will transfer into a trust owned 100% by its membership, with directors acting as guardians of the community’s values.

What Being a CIC Means

A CIC is a special type of limited company designed to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.

• Profits and assets are locked into the community.
• They can only ever be transferred to another similar body — in NewsX’s case, the future membership trust.
• There are no dividends and no shareholder payouts.

This ensures that all revenue and infrastructure remain dedicated to strengthening journalism and the communities it serves.

Editorial Standards

Editorial integrity sits at the heart of NewsX.

• A separate oversight body will be established to monitor compliance with the Code of Practice.
• Breaches will be flagged in public reports published on our site.
• AI systems support this process, helping to identify potential issues quickly, while final judgements remain grounded in ethical standards.
• At present, complaints are handled via MediaWatch. In future, NewsX will run its own internal complaints system.

Accountability to Members

Every director will be directly accountable to the category of community members they represent (these categories will be defined as the organisation grows). This ensures that governance reflects the full diversity of the NewsX community.

Financial and Operational Safeguards

• All income is reinvested for the benefit of the community and the infrastructure needed to sustain independent journalism.
• Salary cap: No manager may earn more than 10 times the most junior full-time member of the team.
• No outsourcing is permitted if the intention is to bypass this principle.
• Directorships are honorary positions — they carry real responsibility and are recognised as such, but the primary reward is demonstrating leadership and a commitment to a better world.

Oversight and Transparency

External oversight structures will be developed as NewsX grows, reinforcing accountability and building trust.

This governance framework is designed to evolve with the organisation. It is not about centralising control, but about ensuring journalism stays in the hands of those who create it, those who read it, and the communities it serves.