Trustworthy news needed now more than ever... get it from papers

THE headline screamed out from the front page of more than 80 regional papers last week: ‘When You’re On Your Own, We Are There With You.’

Leader columns reassured readers that through the tough times ahead, these titles would give the best information they could, local and appropriate, as they tried to be a trusted friend through the social isolation period ahead. But newspapers need friends, too. Many are struggling financially and this pandemic could see some of them off.

Editors are asking the Government for help. Simple things such as designating news media providers as an ‘essential service’ so journalists can keep going to work and papers keep being delivered.

Giving a bit more of the money more usually spent on Facebook and Google for government advertising back to trusted newspapers and instructing shops to continue stocking as an ‘essential item’.

With all the fake news about, we need trusted, responsible sources of information that people can refer to as this situation develops. Let’s stand by our newspapers as they stand by us.