Press regulator’s ‘fake news’ logo sets new standard

A NEWSPAPER industry logo has been launched to reassure readers that they are being protected from “fake news”.

The symbol has been produced by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) to help the public in ensuring that what they read online is genuine rather than “fake news”.

Newspapers, websites and magazines signed up to Ipso, which includes The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and telegraph.co.uk, will be able to use the logo as a guarantee to readers they are not being misled.

The slogan that accompanies the symbol, inset, states: “For press freedom with responsibility.” Ipso said it was particularly useful at a time when the “public’s trust in journalism has been undermined because of the rise of ‘fake news”’.

Matt Tee, Ipso chief executive, said: “I strongly believe that Ipso membership helps our publishers distinguish themselves from the unregulated, thereby demonstrating that they choose to hold themselves accountable to higher standards.” He said the mark and what it stood for could help organisations to overcome challenges currently facing the industry.

Mr Tee said: “The newspaper and magazine industry faces a number of complex challenges over the short term and I firmly believe that one of the ways in which it can thrive and prosper is by its commitment to independent, effective regulation.

“That means Ipso, and that’s why I’m proud that so many of our member publications will proudly display our mark on their pages.”

Most national newspapers are signed up to Ipso, a voluntary independent body not backed by the Government, which acts as regulator with its own code of conduct. The problem of “fake news” largely disseminated on the internet is that the public is left unclear over what is false and what is genuine.