Journalism Matters Launches On Monday

Journalism Matters, the news media industry’s new campaign to highlight the importance of journalism to society, will kick off on Monday with the launch of the Making a Difference vote for the best local newspaper campaign.

On Monday morning, a public vote for the best local newspaper campaign of the past year will go live and shortlisted titles will encourage readers to vote for their campaign. The winner will be announced at the Regional Press Awards by News Media Association vice chairman Henry Faure Walker.  

Shortlisted titles include the Manchester Evening News for its investigation into homelessness in the city, the Evening Times for its campaign for the mandatory teaching of CPR in secondary schools, the Eastern Daily Press for its campaign to promote Norfolk, and The Star in Sheffield’s crackdown on knife crime.   

In a written article for Journalism Matters, NMA chairman David Dinsmore will cite the campaigns as examples of the benefits of news media journalism to society and, against a backdrop of increasing hostility to journalists across the globe, call for a reset in the way journalism is viewed.

Mr Dinsmore said: “This year, the industry has come together to launch Journalism Matters – a new campaign designed to highlight the importance of journalism to our democratic society. I hope this initiative will trigger a much-needed reset in the way journalists and journalism are viewed.”

Papers are preparing their coverage for the week-long campaign with initiatives such as guest editors and features highlighting the strengths of local papers, using material from the Journalism Matters website, in the pipeline.

Industry website Behind Local News is set to publish a special 40-page print edition for Journalism Matters highlighting the importance of local reporting with more than 2,500 copies to be distributed to newsrooms throughout the UK as well as journalism courses.

A #trustednewsday will be held on Thursday with papers coming together to explain to readers just how trusted local news is produced.