A Government review into the sustainability of high-quality journalism, which has been prompted by industry-wide decline in print circulations and ad revenues, has issued its first call for evidence.

The Cairncross Review, led by Dame Frances Cairncross (pictured), will “explore what intervention might be required to safeguard the future of our free and independent press,” according to Culture Secretary Matt Hancock.

A report commissioned ahead of the review has found that circulation and print advertising revenues for news publishers have dropped by more than half over the last decade from nearly £7bn to just over £3bn.