Society dependent on a free Press
By Dr Peter Hirst in Congleton Chronicle
Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats
Dear Sir,
I would like to respond to Jenny Unsworth's letter in last week's Chronicle on Press accountability.
She seems to think the Press's role in the Covid-19 pandemic is to report facts and support the Government.
While agreeing to some extent, we also depend on a free Press to widen our knowledge and contribute to views.
Even government does not always get it right and it is one of the national media's responsibilities to show this up. This is especially relevant when news and political input are mixed to the originator's advantage.
There is more competition in the national Press than in almost any retail sector and people are free to choose which, if any, paper they purchase.
Editors know this well and tread a fine line between appearing useful and interesting, and boring and misleading.
There is a need for an independent media accountability body for when they exceed reasonable limits.
Yours faithfully,
(DR) PETER HIRST
Middlewich.