Making a Difference Highlights Powerful News Media Campaigning

The Making a Difference showcase launched for Journalism Matters highlights powerful national and local news media campaigning which has made a real difference to people’s lives.

At the start of Journalism Matters on Monday 5 October, a vote will be launched enabling the public to pick their favourite local and national campaign from the Making a Difference showcase, made up of entries to the Campaign of the Year category from the Society of Editors’ local and national press awards.

The vote will run for three days, closing at 5pm on Wednesday 7 October, with the local and national winners announced on Friday 9 October. It is the first time national newspaper campaigns have featured in the Making a Difference public vote.  

The showcase includes powerful campaigns from 2019 including the Daily Mirror’s Britain Talks which brought together people with diverse political views and the Daily Mail’s hard-hitting campaign to support families affected by dementia.

Campaigns in the local Making a Difference showcase include  the Express and Star’s fundraising drive to save a local hospice and the Eastern Daily Press’ campaign to help young people with mental health issues.

Making a Difference is part of the News Media Association’s annual Journalism Matters campaign to highlight the vital role journalism plays in our democratic society, with a particular focus on the role of news media during the coronavirus pandemic.

The campaign kicks off on 5 October and will see news media titles across the industry participate through a variety of initiatives such as features highlighting their campaigning work and interviews with high profile figures explaining why trusted news and information has been so important during the pandemic.

Last year, titles such as the Liverpool EchoThe Press and JournalThe Sun, and the Maidenhead Advertiser, took part and the campaign reached 17.4 million people in just a week.  

Other activity includes the Public Interest News List compiled by Behind Local News as well as the launch of new Newsworks research looking at how public views of journalism and trusted news and information have changed during the coronavirus pandemic.

For queries or questions about Journalism Matters please contact Paul Sinker paul@newsmediauk.org or Laura Skerrett laura@newsmediauk.org or call us on 0203 848 9620.