Express & Star backs fight against fake news
The Express & Star is backing a campaign fighting fake news and highlighting the high levels of trust readers place in local newspapers.
Fighting Fake News, which launches tomorrow, will see regional newspapers across the country take a stand against a practice that has become widespread across social media.
Joining forces with competitors, this newspaper will promote the initiative - the first ever coordinated print and digital campaign against the worrying phenomenon.
It is being co-ordinated by Local Media Works, a marketing arm of the News Media Association.
It will also show the ability of local papers to make a difference to the communities they serve through campaigning, and takes place in the run up to Local Newspaper Week from May 15, and the General Election on June 8.
The campaign is being co-ordinated by Local Media Works, a marketing arm of the News Media Association.
News Media Association chairman Ashley Highfield said: “The critical role of local newspapers in providing local communities with highly trusted news and advertisement platforms is even more important than ever in the run up to the general election.
"Through their reporting, local newspapers uphold, promote and support democracy, fighting against the fake news which undermines and subverts it.
"We must champion the vital democratic function of local newspapers now, more than ever."
During the period up to Local Newspaper Week, this newspaper will highlight the checks and balances involved in reporting local news and the investment required to produce local journalism as opposed to distributing fake news to profit from programmatic advertising.
It comes as Facebook and Google face increasing pressure and scrutiny over their part in the spread of fake news online.
