Two Weeks Until Journalism Matters Week

Just over two weeks remain until the industry celebrates the vital importance of highly trusted journalism during the News Media Association’s weeklong Journalism Matters campaign.

Running from 5 to 11 October the campaign, will see news media titles across the country celebrate the vital role journalism plays in our democratic society, with a particular focus on the role of journalism during the coronavirus pandemic.

Journalism Matters launched for the first time last year and saw titles such as the Liverpool Echo, The Press and Journal, The Sun, and the Maidenhead Advertiser, participate, reaching 17.4 million people in just a week.  

This year, the campaign will see series of initiatives designed to celebrate journalism such as the Making a Difference online public votes for the best local and national newspaper campaigns and the Public Interest News List for local journalism compiled by Behind Local News for Journalism Matters.

And during the week, in partnership with the NMA and the Society of Editors, Newsworks will publish new research looking at how public views of journalism and trusted news and information have changed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The NMA will also publish the findings of a survey of local editors looking at the impact of the pandemic on local journalism and its effect in key areas such as press freedom and online abuse of journalists.

Titles across the country will celebrate with their own initiatives such as features highlighting their campaigning work and interviews with high profile figures explaining why trusted news and information has been so important during the pandemic.

The campaign will champion the role of journalism and journalists, including their vital role in recent months debunking and correcting misinformation about coronavirus spread by others on social media during a #trustednewsday on Thursday 8 October.  

For queries or questions about Journalism Matters please contact Paul Sinker paul@newsmediauk.org or Laura Skerrett laura@newsmediauk.org or call us on 0203 848 9620.