Speaking at the Journalism Matters parliamentary reception, Sarah called for a fairer relationship between tech platforms and news publishers as AI summaries eat away at publisher revenues, while simultaneously feeding off journalistic content to keep users on tech platforms.
“I think journalism is in a perilous position, and we are in danger of sleepwalking into losing something fundamental to our democracy,” Sarah said. “There is no question that journalism matters.”
“The problem is that we do not have a level playing field. We, and by that, I mean trusted, regulated publishers across the country, stand out from the AI slop and skewed political narratives that increasingly dominate the information landscape.
“But we need the government to recognise that vibrant local journalism is not an optional extra or a luxury. We need a fairer relationship between publishers and digital platforms.
“We need to protect public notices as a means of informing communities. And we need to confront legal intimidation, including strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, designed to silence public-interest reporting.”
The News Media Association’s Journalism Matters campaign launched yesterday with the Prime Minister describing journalism as a vital part of our national infrastructure, also stressing that local news media is critical to the success of the government’s headline devolution agenda.
Speaking at the event, hosted by Sir John Whittingdale, John Cooper MP said: “Political support for journalism must be more than warm words, it must translate into policy that helps it thrive. That means looking at decisions across government through the lens of the impact on a free, pluralistic and sustainable press from digital markets and AI to the future of the BBC and policies affecting local news.”
The parliamentary reception also saw the winners of this year’s Making a Difference public vote for the best national, and local and regional news media campaigns of the past year presented by News Media Association Chief Executive Theo Bamber.
Theo said: “If the government is serious about unity and common purpose, as Andy Burnham set out when he came to power in July, it must also be serious about ensuring journalism can thrive. Because our industry is a pillar of democracy and a lynchpin of the cohesive, strong and open society the government wants to build.
“We are not asking for handouts, but policy that meets today’s challenges head on. That means bold action on digital markets to take publishers out from under the thumb of global technology companies. It means retaining public notices to support local news as more power is devolved. And it means stopping the wealthy from using lawfare to muzzle reporters in the courts.”
The winner of the Making a Difference Best National Campaign was the i Paper’s ‘Killer Kitchens’ investigation exposing how engineered stone is leaving workers with incurable lung disease.
The Best Regional or Local Campaign was won by The National’s ‘Refugees Are Welcome Here’ highlighting the positive contributions refugees make to communities across Scotland.
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