Journalism Matters highlights the vital role trusted news media journalism plays in our democratic society.

By campaigning on behalf of their readers, independent news media can make a real difference to people’s lives and bring about change for the better. Find out more on how to take part.

Making a Difference is a showcase of powerful national, local and regional news media campaigns. Each year, an online vote is held to find the public’s favourite local and national campaigns from the past year.

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Facts and figures

900

national and local news media titles are published in the UK

Source: NMA (2022)

68%

of under 35s agree that a world without journalism would harm democracy

Source: Newsworks (2021)

Just 33% of people think social media is a trustworthy source of news

Source: Ofcom (2021)

61%

Agree that newspapers play a significant role in making campaigns better known and more popular

Source: Newsworks (2021)

Local newspapers boost democratic engagement. For every percentage point growth in a local daily newspaper’s circulation, electoral turnout on its patch goes up by 0.37 percentage points

Source: Plum Consulting 2020

73%

of the GB population (aged 15+) read local news media every month

Source: JICREG 2022

In 2022 only 27% of respondents felt that the technology sector is regulated in a way that protects consumer interests, this is a drop from 31% in 2021.

Source: DCMS Survey 2023

Local and national news brands reach 87% of the GB population (47.2 million people aged 15 or over) every month

Source: PAMCo (2023)

The UK is currently 24th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index

Source: Reporters Without Borders (2022)

News content created by British publishers generates approximately £1 billion in UK revenues for Google and Facebook every year

Source: Professor Matthew Elliott, University of Cambridge/NMA (2022)

73%

of people agree that news media had explained what they can do in response to the coronavirus pandemic

Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (2020)

Most Brits (62%) believe journalists are playing a “valuable role” in covering the cost-of-living crisis

Source: Newsworks/OnePoll 2022

81% of Brits agree that they trust the news and information they see in their local news media – a rise of 7% on 2018.

Source: Newsworks/OnePoll 2022

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