IPSO (the Independent Press Standards Organisation) has responded to a consultation by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the prominence of trustworthy news online.
The Government is seeking views on proposals to update policy on public service media, such as the BBC, and other trustworthy news providers in the digital age.
One of the suggestions in the accompanying green paper, ‘Watch this space’, is a prominence regime for online news to ensure that social media users are presented with trustworthy news more prominently than other sources of information. The consultation is also seeking views on how to define a trustworthy news provider in this context.
IPSO says its response welcomes the attention being given to the increased use of social media as a source of news and how to ensure users are presented with trustworthy news sources over potential mis- and disinformation.
IPSO also welcomes proposals for cross-sector working on media literacy, a key part of its operations, and offers to contribute on this effort where appropriate.
It cautions careful consideration, however, on the idea of placing additional duties regarding media literacy and related matters on news publishers themselves, noting the limited resources of the industry, particularly the stretched local news sector.
IPSO Chief Executive Charlotte Dewar said: “It’s encouraging to see the government attempt to grasp the nettle on threats to the public from unreliable, unaccountable news sources online.
“We stand ready to support with any efforts on media literacy and look forward to seeing the government’s next steps on this matter.”
IPSO’s full response to considerations about the proposed prominence regime and media literacy proposals is attached below.
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