Ministers have reiterated the government’s commitment to local journalism after the publication of a report which claims to have found a link between newspaper circulation and voter turnout.

John Whittingdale, Minister of State for Media and Data, says the industry remains his “absolute priority” as the week-long Journalism Matters campaign continues.

Mr Whittingdale, pictured, urged people to buy their local newspapers and described the regional press as the “cornerstone of a rich and varied media landscape respected for its tenacity around the world”.

His comments come after a report commissioned by Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport claimed to have established a link between higher levels of local newspaper circulation and higher turnout in local elections.

The research by independent consulting firm Plum found the turnout rate increased by 0.37pc in areas where there was a 1pc increase in daily newspaper circulation among the adult population, while there was a 0.1pc increase in turnout where weekly newspaper circulation increased by the same amount.

The study, conducted using a statistical technique called econometric analysis, examined JICREG circulation data from 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2019 and DCMS local election data from the same years.

However it did not explain which newspaper circulations it had studied as part of its research.

And the report also contained some inaccuracies on the state of the industry – including a table listing 24 local authority areas which it claimed “have no local news provision or fall below the thresholds applied to identify whether a newspaper is local”.

North West Leicestershire was one area identified in the table, although it is served by both the Coalville Times and the Leicester Mercury, while Woking, another authority identified, is served by the Woking News & Mail.

A third local authority mentioned, East Northamptonshire, is covered by the Northamptonshire Telegraph.

The report also wrongly claimed that investigative journalism unit The Bureau Local has 30 full-time members of staff, when in reality it has four, plus two part-time employees.

HTFP has approached Plum for further comment on its findings and methodology.

In his statement for Journalism Matters, Mr Whittingdale also focused on the government’s All In, All Together public health advertising campaign, which saw £21m of funding go to regional and local titles.

He said: “As the Minister with responsibility for the media it remains my absolute priority to do all I can to support local news outlets. They are the cornerstone of a rich and varied media landscape respected for its tenacity around the world.

“We are privileged to have so many high quality outlets and I urge people to recognise and support all that’s best about this valuable industry by making sure they back – and buy – their local papers.”

Both Nicola Sturgeon and Shadow Culture Secretary Jo Stevens have lent their backing to Journalism Matters.

Ms Sturgeon described newspapers as “an important part of the economic recovery” from the impact of coronavirus, while Ms Stevens praised the late Harold Evans and the “vital role” of the regional press.