Britain is in the grip of an information crisis. Trust in news media has fallen to historic lows. Conspiracy theories and misinformation circulate at scale. Political discourse has coarsened.
n
The Data
n
Reuters Institute annual surveys show UK news trust falling from around 50% in 2015 to below 35% today. The decline is particularly pronounced among younger adults.
n
The Causes
n
The collapse of local journalism has left communities without reliable information about local affairs. Social media algorithms amplify outrage and division. A small but influential ecosystem of partisan news sites fills the vacuum.
n
What Quality Journalism Can Do
n
Independent, well-resourced journalism that holds power to account is the best antidote to misinformation. It is also, paradoxically, under the most financial pressure.
n
National Herald's Commitment
n
We were founded on a simple principle: truth, without favour. Every story we publish is held to that standard. We have no political allegiance and no commercial interest that overrides the public interest.
n
