Yahoo News Local media is first line of defence against election misinformation
People will rely heavily on highly trusted local news media to combat misinformation and fake news during the upcoming general election, a new public poll published last week for the News Media Association’s Local Matters report has found.
According to the UK nationally representative OnePoll survey, 81 per cent of UK adults think local news media will be important in debunking AI-generated misinformation about the general election. In addition, 80 per cent agree local news media will be the most important source for local news about the election.
Local news media reaches 42 million people a month in print and digital and is a force for good in local communities, the report found. Conducted in March, the OnePoll survey found that 91 per cent of the public agree that local news media reporting improves communities by campaigning on issues that matter to residents.
Read more: See inside Gateshead Leisure Centre which is set to reopen this week after 11-month closure
Read more: All our general election updates, news and information is here
Writing for the NMA’s Journalism Matters campaign, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer MP said: “As Culture Secretary I am proud of the exceptional journalism we have in this country and the 900 news titles that make up our flourishing media scene. Local newspapers, powered by committed local reporters, copy editors, photographers and publishers, are part of the lifeblood of that industry.”
Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire MP said: “Quality regional and local media is crucial for democracy. It’s the glue that helps bind and build resilient communities.”
NMA chairman Danny Cammiade said: “As we enter the age of misinformation supercharged by increasingly sophisticated technology, the role of trusted sources of news and information will become even more important than it is today. At the core of this is UK local news media – local newspapers and their websites – which serves communities with trusted local journalism on an hourly, daily and weekly basis across a wide variety of platforms, acting as a powerful force for good.
“Government can foster an environment in which local media can thrive by placing the sector at the heart of its levelling up agenda and taking decisive action such as diverting more advertising spend to local news and reining in the BBC’s expansion into local markets already well served by commercial providers.”
The report highlights examples of innovation from the sector such as the award-winning Public Notice Portal, as well as examples of local news media campaigns that have made a difference to communities. In the last year, ChronicleLive has campaigned on raising awareness of knife crime through Stop Knives Taking Lives as well as to support the saving of Gateshead Leisure Centre.
