Queen says pandemic has exposed need for ‘trusted, reliable’ media sources

‘The efforts of the news media to support communities throughout the United Kingdom during the pandemic have been invaluable,' says monarch

Queen Elizabeth has issued a message of support for news media, highlighting the need for 'trusted, reliable' sources of information throughout the pandemic (AP)

The Queen has highlighted the “invaluable” role played by news organisations in times of crisis and said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the need for “trusted reliable” media sources.

Her message was sent to the News Media Association, in conjunction with the industry body’s new Journalism Matters campaign, which launched on Monday.

The Queen wrote: “The Covid-19 pandemic has once again demonstrated what an important public service the established news media provides, both nationally and regionally.

“As our world has changed dramatically, having trusted, reliable sources of information, particularly at a time when there are so many sources competing for our attention, is vital.

“The efforts of the news media to support communities throughout the United Kingdom during the pandemic have been invaluable - whether through fundraising, encouraging volunteering, or providing a lifeline for the elderly and vulnerable to the outside world,” she added.

The News Media Association, which represents all major national and local newspaper publishers, launched its Journalism Matters campaign, calling for public and government support for established news outlets.

The chairman, Henry Faure Walker, said in an article accompanying the Queen’s statement that the industry needed more support during “one of the most disruptive and uncertain” years in living memory.

“In the news media industry, part of our job has been to help our readers make sense of these unprecedented events,” he said.

“We have reported on every twist and turn of the local and national lockdowns and kept you up to date with vital public health information.

“We have held power to account and robustly challenged the decision-makers on your behalf. Sometimes, our role has been to seek clarity amid confusion from the authorities, and toxic misinformation about coronavirus spread by bad actors on social media.”

Mr Faure Walker added that research shows the public “place great value” on news and trusted sources of information, as audiences “have soared during the crisis”.

“But our role goes much further than that,” he said, pointing towards the organisation’s various campaigns and initiatives to help people stay informed and in touch with one another throughout the national and local lockdowns," he said.

But he warned that the journalism industry has not been “immune” to challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly as many outlets have taken hits to advertising revenue over the course of the crisis, leaving them in a “perilous position”.

“We now urgently need Government to intervene with a series of targeted initiatives to help sustain local independent journalism in this country.

“And the relationship between the news media and the tech giants needs to be properly reset,” he added.

“For too long, Google and Facebook have had a free pass at bring our journalism on their platforms, making huge profits, while contributing comparatively nothing back into the industry.

“This problem must be tackled urgently in order for journalism to have a bright future.”