11 March 2021

Lib Dems Under Fire Over Fake Local Newspapers

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.

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.  

A member of the public told Edinburgh Live 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”.

Edinburgh Live reported that it is not apparent that the “newspaper” contains any party branding.

Examples of the fake local papers have emerged in communities across the country in recent weeks, drawing sharp criticism from local editors.  

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

“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.

“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.

“This all leads to those in power becoming more powerful, more protected from scrutiny and less accountable to the public.” 

The News Media Association and local publishers campaigned against the publications during the 2019 general election when scores of examples of the fake local papers designed to dupe the public were being distributed by political parties.  

At the time, then NMA chairman David Dinsmore described the fake local papers as “a cynical attempt by politicians to mislead the public” which must be stopped.

The News Media Association said today: “Dressing up political material as independent local news damages public trust in both politicians and the local news media which has played such a critical role in keeping the public informed during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We urge the Liberal Democrats to stop publishing these fake newspapers immediately.”