The BBC should pay local newspapers to use their stories rather than fund extra reporters to cover local councils and courts, the head of one of the country's largest local news groups has told MPs. Ashley Highfield, the chief executive of Johnson Press, said he had been in discussion with the broadcaster about a "commissioning" model where it paid for their news and pictures to use on its platforms. He said he was wary of the BBC's suggestion of a network of 100 public service reporters, announced in September.