{"id":2799,"date":"2021-03-11T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsmediauk.org\/lib-dems-under-fire-over-fake-local-newspapers\/"},"modified":"2024-05-03T09:39:51","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T08:39:51","slug":"lib-dems-under-fire-over-fake-local-newspapers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsmediauk.org\/blog\/2021\/03\/11\/lib-dems-under-fire-over-fake-local-newspapers\/","title":{"rendered":"Lib Dems Under Fire Over Fake Local Newspapers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dressing up political material as independent local news damages public trust in both politicians and the local news media which has played such a vital part in keeping the public informed during the coronavirus pandemic, the News Media Association said today.<\/p>\n

Criticism of political leaflets mimicking independent local newspapers is mounting as examples of fake local newspapers published by the Liberal Democrats have started to emerge across the UK.  <\/p>\n

A member of the public told Edinburgh Live<\/a> that the Lib Dem’s fake local paper the West Edinburgh Gazette was a “misuse of journalistic techniques” and a “prime example of political propaganda”.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh Live reported that it is not apparent that the “newspaper” contains any party branding.<\/p>\n

Examples of the fake local papers have emerged in communities across the country in recent weeks, drawing sharp criticism from local editors.  <\/p>\n

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Getting this through the door when you’ve just pressed send on the last of three editions of a 96-page local paper produced by talented, hardworking journalists is… annoying to say the least #notanewspaper<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MzdCxgLqNe<\/a><\/p>\n

— Hannah Chapman (@hannahcdst) February 25, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reacting to the Lib Dems “newspaper” on its patch,The Northants Citizen, the Northampton Chronicle and Echo said<\/a>: “Let’s be clear. It is nothing more than a political propaganda sheet masquerading as local news.<\/p>\n

“Nowhere on the front page does it identify itself as a party political freesheet produced by the Liberal Democrats. Only in tiny print on the back page sandwiched between a picture story showing a number of local Liberal Democrats and a page lead does it state that it is published by West Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats.<\/p>\n

“When political movements try to impersonate us, we are undermined. When members of the public realise they have been fooled by a medium that looks like ours, the next time they read journalism produced by us, they may trust it that bit less.<\/p>\n

“This all leads to those in power becoming more powerful, more protected from scrutiny and less accountable to the public.” <\/p>\n