Your newshub sounds a lot like the copy sharing model NZPA had prior to 2006 which worked well for over a hundred years.

I think with the current trends of increasing numbers of news channels we need to build a platform that will support the not only the production and distribution but also the monetisation of high quality news articles and items.

To this end perhaps newshub could incorporate market type functions where individual journalists (and photographers/multi media producers etc) can supply content to media nationally and be paid directly.

This would encourage good returns for high value content from competent journalists as well as providing access to those who are still learning the trade.

I know a freelance market exists here already – but does not have the functionality needed to operate as a news distribution platform. An example of developments like this already is NZPAImages (http://www.nzpaimage.co.nz) where freelancers can distribute news photographs on a revenue share arrangement. Something like this but for articles, sound and video too could work.

To some extent it’s a bit like a wire service, but it also relies on individual contributions from stations (300 of them, dotted all over the UK). Some stations contribute more than others. Not sure if there’s much in the way of financial reward, though…

Playing devil’s advocate here, is there not a risk that individual titles will see the financial benefit of giving good copy that’s useable nationally.. and focus more of their resources on this, neglecting the bread-and-butter local stories that sell papers?