“With greater local power must come local accountability. And that is why local journalism matters”

Journalism is a vital part of our national infrastructure and local news media is critical to the success of the government’s headline devolution agenda, Andy Burnham has said today for the launch of this year’s Journalism Matters campaign.

In an article for Journalism Matters, the news industry’s annual campaign coordinated by the News Media Association, the Prime Minister said he was “proud to support this year's Journalism Matters campaign” which is about “recognising journalism not as a nice-to-have, but as part of the national infrastructure of a healthy country and democracy.

“It holds power to account, strengthens our resilience and connects people to the places they call home,” he added.

The Prime Minister said: “Too much power in this country has flowed one way: towards Westminster and away from the places where people actually live their lives.

“This government is changing that. We are putting power and resources back into the hands of communities. Because I want people in local communities to have a bigger say over the decisions that shape their area.

“But with greater local power must come local accountability. And that is why local journalism matters.

“Local reporters are the people sitting in council chambers, courts and planning meetings, asking the questions that need to be asked. They shine a light on decisions made in people’s name and give communities a voice,” Mr Burnham added. “But their role goes much further than holding power to account.

“At moments when communities are at their most vulnerable, good local journalism can bring people together and separate fact from fiction. We saw that after Southport and, more recently, in Belfast, when trusted reporters challenged lies and misinformation being spread online.”

This year’s Journalism Matters campaign will see the news industry come together to celebrate the role journalism plays underpinning national infrastructure. A global report published by UNESCO earlier this year found a raft of economic and security benefits connected to journalism in countries with an ecosystem which supports an independent free press.

NMA chief executive Theo Bamber said: “The Prime Minister is absolutely right to point to the critical role that independent journalism plays in our society and particularly how important local news will be to the success of his own sprawling devolution agenda.

“Now, the support shown by the Prime Minister must turn into real action that demonstrates the government understands the changed environment that journalists and news publishers are operating in and strengthens their ability to do more of what they’re brilliant at - chasing stories, uncovering the truth and holding power to account.

“This means the government must do everything in its power to maintain a free and plural media ecosystem where the value of journalistic content is recognised and protected, whether that’s from global tech companies or the consequences of poor policy decisions. Journalism and news publishing are part of our national infrastructure and need the protection and support that comes with that.”