Radio Exe wins BBC local democracy contract Radio Exe is one of 18 news organisations in the UK that will employ journalists to cover ‘local democracy’, providing content to other media companies who qualify to receive it. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has been running for three years. Until now it has been operated in Devon by Reach, publishers of local papers such as the Western Morning News, Express and Echo, and Herald Express, and websites such as DevonLive. From the 1st of July, the three-year contract passes to Radio Exe. An increase in the number of reporters in Devon from that date will mean greater coverage of local councils and public sector organisations such as the health service, police and fire service.