About This Site

The Oldham Owl is an independent news organisation for Oldham. We report carefully, explain clearly, investigate properly, and treat local public life as something that matters.

Oldham has plenty of stories. What it lacks is sustained scrutiny of the decisions that shape people's homes, streets, schools, businesses, services, health, safety and futures. Some of those decisions are made in Oldham. Some are made in Greater Manchester. Some are made in Whitehall. The consequences land locally, while the explanations stay distant or hidden. We aim to close that gap.

We work from evidence: public documents, data, council papers, company records, court records, freedom of information requests, interviews and on-the-ground reporting.

We ask basic questions and keep asking them until we get real answers.

Who made the decision?
What did it cost?
Who benefits?
Who loses?
What was promised?
What happened?
What happens next?
Who's responsible?

We are not party political. We criticise where criticism is deserved, praise where praise is deserved, and correct ourselves when we get things wrong. We give people the chance to respond to serious claims before we publish. We separate fact from comment and evidence from suspicion.

Public money and public decisions should be accounted for, whether they come from councils, companies or charities. Powerful people and institutions should expect scrutiny, and work better under it.

We launch fully in September 2026. Before then, we're publishing holding pieces and doing the groundwork: research, source building, document gathering, and early investigation.

• To anyone we contact: we are serious, independent, and ready to listen.
• To public bodies and elected representatives: we will be fair, but not deferential.
• To readers: we will earn your trust, article by article.
• The name reflects what we want to be: watchful, patient, and sharp-eyed, even in the dark.

Jason Flynn, co-founder
Will Holdaway, co-founder and Editor