Delivering the keynote speech at the News Media Association's Journalism Matters parliamentary event, the Culture Secretary told an audience of more than 120 publishers, Parliamentarians, and civil servants that local journalists were crucial in providing trusted information to the public during the riots over the summer.
She said: “While national media understandably focused on the violent thugs who caused havoc in our towns, local and regional media were often first on the scene busting myths and telling the story of the community response.
“Liverpool’s Nans against Nazis and my own Wigan’s Love Pies Hate Racism. These were the people who took to the streets, stood up against hate, defended their communities and led the clean-up. It was a reminder of the importance of a genuinely national media that tells the stories of our whole nation.”
The Culture Secretary said government could help the industry by, “creating a fair balance between publishers and platforms and a level playing field for local media online.”
Government would recognise, “the importance of good, peer-reviewed journalism as the best source of news and information over unchecked, artificially-generated stories…As the Prime Minister wrote this weekend,” the Culture Secretary said.
“And by protecting the integrity and plurality of news sources in the UK through our media-merger regime and ensuring it reflects changes and developments in our media landscape.
“By protecting journalists to report the truth in the hardest of circumstances, both at home - through the Online Safety Act that will introduce new protections from abuse.
“By tackling the use of SLAPPS to that are used to silence and intimidate investigative journalists. Our commitment is to help you to navigate an increasingly litigious field to strike the right balance so we protect fearless reporting and access to justice.”
She added: “That is why I am here today. To tell you that we will do our bit and to say that we need you to do yours. Because that is what is at stake. To protect fearless, truthful journalism. Which holds power to account. Gives voice to the voiceless. And shapes a nation.”
The Journalism Matters parliamentary reception was hosted by Shadow Culture Secretary Julia Lopez MP who welcomed guests to the event.
She said: “I’m really very appreciative in this particular week thinking about the importance of journalism, for everything journalists do, because the way in which the world is moving the need to pursue truth and to build trust in democratic society is more important than it ever has been.
She added: “We need to underpin journalism, not just at a national level but also at a local level.”
Also speaking at the event, Newsquest regional editor Richard Porritt highlighted the huge reach of local news media and called for measures from government to help the sector including diverting more advertising spend into local journalism.
“Whatever the technological advances, the role journalism plays remains absolutely vital. This is an industry we cannot afford to let suffer – journalism is one of the cornerstones of a functioning democratic society. When no one else will listen, when people think all hope is gone, when justice seems just a pipedream it is my reporters people come to see,” he said.
“There is a future for news publishers. And I believe it is a bright one. That is exciting – and it is excellent news for this country that we all love so much. But for us to continue to move forward we do need some things to change. We need the recognition we deserve – and, ultimately, it will be for the good of communities up and down the country.”
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