Impress, the press regulator, has urged representatives from the UK’s leading political parties to reconsider their use of campaign materials designed to mimic newspapers.
As well as writing to Conservative Party Chair, Greg Hands (see below), letters were also sent to the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party (as well as the SNP, Sinn Fein, The DUP and Plaid Cymru).
IW MP’s pamphlet
Here on the Isle of Wight, the MP, Bob Seely, has produced a paper-like pamphlet – although he does make it clear that the content is from him and not a journalist.
Not the first time
This is not the first that election candidates from political parties have tried to mimic newspapers, an act seen by some as disingenuous and misleading.
As the Press Gazette reported in 2019, the Liberal Democrats came under fire for their pamphlets that aped local newspapers. In particular, one carried the masthead “Mid-Hampshire Gazette”, which it was thought, could have easily been mistaken for the Basingstoke Gazette.
The Conservatives also came under the spotlight for publishing the newspaper-style “East Devon Future”.
Unsurprisingly, the ‘newspapers’ created by the political parties speak glowingly about what they have done for the local areas.
Impress: Collaboration and transparency is needed
Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana, CEO of press regulator Impress, told Greg Hands,
“For democracy to flourish, it is essential that we have a thriving, healthy and trusted news media ecosystem. To achieve this, collaboration and transparency is needed between news organisations, the public and politicians.
“It is entirely disheartening then to see the latter groups continuing to engage in the practice of distributing campaigning materials under the guise of local newspapers, misleading voters into believing what they are reading is the work of local journalists from independent publications.
“Often, these are accompanied by either no clarification of their actual purpose or by only the smallest clarifying statements.”
Lexi went on to add,
“We are therefore asking that the Conservative Party, and all political parties, carefully review this practice among their candidates moving forward and the negative impact it will have on politics, journalism, and democracy.
“If you do insist on continuing to produce these materials, we implore you to seek out rigorous and independent press regulation for them to ensure they meet robust standards.”
If any readers see evidence locally of political parties or candidates publishing pamphlets that look like newspapers please get in touch with photos.
Headline image created with Dall.e 3 AI
