Reliable news in the age of spin
IN a world of fake news, spin and social media manipulation, the importance of proper journalism has never been greater.
This week is Journalism Matters Week, when the work local and regional websites and papers do for their communities is celebrated, not just within the industry, but by the loyal readers with whom they’ve built up special relationships over what, in some cases, can be hundreds of years. The Accrington Observer, for example, has been a part of everyday life in the borough since 1887.
Through thick and thin, it has been on hand to provide reliable, comprehensive news to the Valley - even through 2020, the most unprecedented of years.
Our pages have featured everything from the most serious of crimes, to moving examples of human spirit and generosity.
Even before coronavirus shaped our lives there was no denying that the media landscape has undergone many changes in recent years.
The advent of social media has meant that verified, trusted media outlets now operate in a much more crowded information market, where virtually anyone with a smartphone can become a publisher and share information with the world in a matter of seconds.
And so, more now than ever, it’s important that we know that the news we are reading is bona fide news, written by proper journalists. We need to know that the sources are reliable, than the news is accurate and fair, and that the journalists responsible for publishing the news are accountable for what they do.
The Accrington Observer and our sister website Lancs Live, along with all of the other Reach PLC’s titles, are regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
That means they abide by an industry code that is there to ensure journalists work to the highest ethical standards.
It is absolutely right that if people feel aggrieved let down by the media, they have the opportunity to challenge that.
We know that people expect what they read to be reliable and true, and we take a lot of pride in k n o wi n g that we are giving people the news that helps them better understand the world in which they live.
Luke Beardsworth, editor of Lancs Live, said: “All of the articles you read on LancsLive, or the newspapers in our area, are delivered by trained journalists and vetted by experienced content editors prior to publication.
“Nobody can promise a news service that contains zero errors 100 per cent of the time, but we can do everything we can to prevent them, them and hold our hands up and apologise when they are made.
“If you ever see something you don’t like on our site, please don’t hesitate to contact the editor. And if you want to take that discussion further, we are regulated by IPSO, who operate independently to hold what we do to account. As ever, we continue to work hard to shine a light on the issues that matter to our communities the most.
“That means holding those in power to account, shining a spotlight on where the system is failing people, examining the debate around contentious issues, and campaigning to save our most cherished institutions.
“We will continue to tell you of the plight of the most vulnerable in society, but also to work with people to help make a difference to those people wherever we can.”