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Industry launches fightback against politicians’ ‘fake newspapers’

The newspaper industry has launched a fightback against ‘fake newspapers’ produced by political parties which it says are undermining the local media.

Over the past week, HTFP has highlighted a series of instance of political parties bringing out political pamphlets which mimic established local titles.

Newsquest made an official complaint to the party over publication of the Mid Hampshire Gazette, produced in support of the Lib Dems’ election candidate for Winchester Paula Ferguson, which was criticised for its similarity to the Basingstoke Gazette.

And JPIMedia group content development director Tim Robinson posted comparative images online of JPIMedia weekly the Glenrothes Gazette and the North East Fife Gazette, a  Lib Dem publication which is described as a “free local newspaper”.

JPIMedia weekly the Glenrothes Gazette, left, and the North East Fife Gazette

JPIMedia weekly the Glenrothes Gazette, left, and the North East Fife Gazette

Posting on Twitter, Tim wrote: “One of these is a long-standing JPIMedia local media title. “The other is a Lib Dem election pamphlet, albeit in the neighbouring constituency. Can you tell which?”

Now News Media Association chairman David Dinsmore is calling on all political parties to put an immediate end to the practice which he said abused the trust local brands enjoy with their audiences.

Wrote David: “In the past week, all three of the main parties have been accused of creating fake local newspapers carrying party political campaigning content rather than independent local news.

“The consequences of this tactic are far reaching. Audiences could be led to believe that they are reading independent local news rather than party political content. Or, they could see the charade for what it is – a cynical attempt by politicians to mislead the public.

“In both scenarios, trust in both politicians and local news media is badly damaged as a result.

“The News Media Association is calling on all political parties to immediately end this damaging practice which harms and undermines our democratic society.”

The row began after HTFP reported that Katie French, editor of Newsquest weekly the Basingstoke Gazette, criticised the Lib Dems for the pamphlet’s similarity to her own title, which circulates in the Mid Hampshire constituency.

It prompted Newsquest editorial director Toby Granville to threaten to advise the company’s editors not to publish Lib Dem election campaign news unless the Mid Hampshire Gazette was pulled.

In an official complaint, also sent to the Electoral Commission, he also demanded the party apologises, ceases publication of the pamphlet immediately and destroys any remaining copies.  However it has yet to do so and Newsquest has not received a reply.

The Society of Editors has also called for new “clear, enforceable guidelines on political freesheets” to be introduced as a result of the row.

David Dinsmore’s article, which has been published in scores of regional titles today, can be read in full below.


David_Dinsmore

News brands, and in particular local newspapers and their websites, have a critical role to play in the general election.

They are the most trusted source of local news and information in communities across the UK and members of the public rely on them to scrutinise authority on their behalf.

They perform this function day in day out but, in the midst of a hard-fought general election campaign, the sector really comes under the spotlight.

As well as from local candidates vying for a seat in parliament, local news brands have visits from party leaders who are keen to take their message out to communities via trusted platforms.

Local news brands are, therefore, a vital part of the democratic process.

So, it has been worrying to see political parties seeking to undermine and abuse the trusted relationship local news brands enjoy with their audiences.

In the past week, all three of the main parties have been accused of creating fake local newspapers carrying party political campaigning content rather than independent local news.

The consequences of this tactic are far reaching.

Audiences could be led to believe that they are reading independent local news rather than party political content.

Or, they could see the charade for what it is – a cynical attempt by politicians to mislead the public.

In both scenarios, trust in both politicians and local news media is badly damaged as a result.

The News Media Association is calling on all political parties to immediately end this damaging practice which harms and undermines our democratic society.

During this election campaign, politicians from across the political divide have spoken of the immense value that local news brands add to our society.

It’s no secret that the industry is facing enormous challenges as reading habits increasingly move towards digital, and the tech giants continue to gobble up the lion’s share of advertising revenue.

Funding independent local journalism, which 40.6 million people across the UK consume every month in print and digital, is becoming an increasingly difficult job.

But, because they claim to understand the value news media adds to society, we want politicians to help the local sector as they adapt their business models for the future.

That’s why, at the start of this election campaign, the NMA challenged Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn to answer five questions about how they would help the local media industry if they were elected.

We want them to take steps to protect press freedom, crack down on the tech giants who use our content yet contribute next to nothing back into the industry, and move government advertising spend back into trusted news media channels.

By doing this, whoever leads the next government will help ensure a bright future for the news brands which contribute so much to our democratic way of life.

4 comments

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  • December 2, 2019 at 11:44 am
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    Is the real reason that Big News is concerned is because the “fake” newspapers look like they’ve been properly designed and subbed?

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  • December 2, 2019 at 12:24 pm
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    “….audiences could be led to believe that they are reading independent local news rather than party political content”

    Exactly however it’s a two way street, in all this tub thumping there’s still no mention or acknowledgement of those publishers who allow their local paper editors or commercial staff to take paid for political party wraparounds made to look like the paper itself which to my way of thinking is far more damaging than what’s obviously a leaflet in the style of a paper.

    ALL papers should also be barred from selling this kind of advertising around a local paper, it’s up to the industry to set the correct example

    Double standards

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  • December 2, 2019 at 12:58 pm
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    How much of this outrage is driven by anger at the potential loss of ad revenue from political groups who might otherwise have advertised within or ( as has been said previously) around their local weekly I wonder?
    Electioneering and canvassing budgets were always seen as a lucrative source of one off local newspaper ad revenue but now sales figures and audiences have dissipated and the numbers reached are no longer effective, perhaps this has driven the parties to produce their own campaigning material albeit in a newspaper looking format.

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  • December 2, 2019 at 5:45 pm
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    Our local NQ excuse for a newspaper ran its question and answer session with local candidates with questions like: What car do you drive? Where did you last go on holiday? Last thing you ate? Have you ever taken illegal drugs? Last time you cried? Favourite book of all time? Favourite restaurant in the area? Where do you do your food shopping? What’s your favourite drink? Why do you deserve the gig? Two mild questions between those, but that’s the local Newsquest paper – one of those complaining about this.
    Give me strength, because our local media has none!

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