Pressing issues: Making the media work for democracy

The UK media is among the least trusted in the democratic world. Largely owned by a handful of corporations, and with a track record of abuse, misinformation and sensationalism, this is perhaps little surprise.

Yet it is also true that as ethics, privacy and other public protections have been neglected, new and genuine threats to the standing and freedom of the press have emerged. Meritless threats of expensive litigation, a failure to safeguard professional standards and credibility and, abroad, even the threat of physical violence, have all made it harder for journalists with integrity to produce the free, fearless reporting we so desperately need.

In this pamphlet, journalists and experts set out the problems that characterise the media landscape, propose a range of changes to improve standards, and set out how the government can uphold the rights of journalists both at home and around the world.