In an article marking the launch of the News Media Association’s Journalism Matters campaign, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer gave his strong backing to news media and the creative sector as “central to this government’s driving mission on economic growth”.
Starmer said his government would “always champion press freedoms” — which would include tackling SLAPPs deployed by the powerful to stop journalists publishing the truth — and warned that digital technology must not be allowed to erode press freedom.
In his article, he said: “There are over 900 local and national news titles in the UK. For all the prophecies of doom about the future of news, that represents an extraordinary strength. The British news industry reaches over eighty percent of the population.
“However, this vitality should not blind us to the challenges. And, while thankfully there is no direct threat to press freedoms in our country, we must remain vigilant that the growing power of digital technology does not begin to chip away at them. Particularly as artificial intelligence begins to transform our economy and way of life.
“Both artificial intelligence and the creative industries – which includes news and media – are central to this government’s driving mission on economic growth. To strike balance in our industrial policy, we are working closely with both sectors. We recognise the basic principle that publishers should have control over and seek payment for their work, including when thinking about the role of AI.”
See the full story on the NMA’s website here.
