Donald Trump and Jeremy Corbyn have been criticised by a former regional daily editor for misusing the term ‘fake news’.

Kevin Ward, who edited the South Wales Argus up until the end of last year, has hit out the “dangerous” use of the term with regards to media outlets reporting in a manner with which politicians disagree.

Kevin still writes weekly column ‘Ward’s Week’ for the Newport-based Argus, and used it on Monday to accuse both President Trump and the Labour leader of jumping on the “‘fake news’ bandwagon”.

In his piece, Kevin said people needed to “think long and hard” about what politicians mean when they dismiss media reports using the term.

He wrote: “If they are saying the reports are a pack of lies, then fine. If they are saying the reports are made-up fantasies, then fine. And, make no mistake, there is plenty of fake news about.

“The internet is awash with it – some of it nothing more than pranks designed to hoodwink the gullible, but some of it far more sinister.

“But when President Trump derides CNN, for instance, as ‘fake news’ then he is doing something dangerous. What he is really doing is labelling any news outlet that reports in a way in which he disagrees as fake news. And that is wrong.

“Reporting a different set of opinions to yours is not fake news. Reporting on those opposed to your policies is not fake news.”

President Trump has dismissed several reports using the term since taking office, while Mr Corbyn accused the BBC of peddling ‘fake news’ when asked in an interview about rumours he was preparing to quit as Labour leader.

Added Kevin: “The media is there to challenge authority and to hold it to account. Sadly, there are fewer journalists than ever before across the media which means much of this vital work is not being done. And the national media, particularly the national print media in this country, is increasingly sympathetic to just one side of the political divide.

“When politicians and others in power refuse to speak to news outlets that do not share their views or report their policies as they would like, then we are in a difficult and dangerous place.”