Hull Daily Mail editor-in-chief joins Prime Minister Andy Burnham in writing about the importance of local journalism in our communities, and highlighting some of the ways we have made a difference
Sunset on the first Saturday of Hull Fair 2026
Journalism Matters Week 2026 is an opportunity for Hull to celebrate something that is fundamental to our local communities, our democracy and our everyday lives: the power of journalism to make a difference.
At a time when we are surrounded by information, opinion, speculation and, increasingly, misinformation, trusted local journalism matters more than ever. It provides the facts, asks the difficult questions, holds those in power to account and gives people the information they need to understand the world around them.
And nowhere is that more important than in our local Hull communities. At the Hull Daily Mail, we are proud of our role in telling the stories of the East Riding. From the issues affecting families and businesses to the achievements of our schools, charities, sporting heroes and cultural organisations, local journalism gives our communities a voice.
Our coverage of the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors case demonstrated the importance of sensitive, compassionate and responsible local journalism during an extraordinarily distressing time for the community.
As executive editor Hannah Corken has reflected , this was a story about real people, real families and loved ones who deserved dignity, respect and compassion. Our newspaper’s priority was not simply reporting the shocking details of the case, but ensuring that the voices and experiences of those affected were heard.
The Hull Daily Mail continued telling families’ stories every day, for as long as it took to tell every single one, recognising that these were stories that deserved to be heard and remembered. The newspaper also dedicated its front and back pages as a tribute to those at the heart of the scandal.
This approach demonstrated journalism at its most human: giving families a voice, honouring loved ones and supporting calls for lasting change.
Local journalism is about celebrating what makes our region special, which we do in many ways including by supporting events such as the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards, which will be announced later this month.
But it is also about challenging what needs to change. It means shining a light on injustice, scrutinising decisions made by those in authority and making sure that the concerns of ordinary people are heard.
Our journalists are out and about in Hull every day, listening, investigating, reporting and connecting with the people and places they serve. They understand that behind every headline is a human story and that every story has the potential to make a difference.
But journalism does not happen by accident. It takes skilled, committed and curious people, supported by investment, training and a belief in the importance of independent reporting. It also relies on readers who value quality journalism and recognise that reliable information is worth supporting.
Journalism Matters Week is a particularly important time because it helps us talk about the future of our industry, hopefully inspire the next generation of journalists and explain why strong local news is essential in today’s world.
We need young people from all backgrounds to see journalism as an exciting, rewarding and meaningful career. Their perspectives, experiences and voices will help shape the journalism of tomorrow.
There are challenges, of course. The media landscape is changing rapidly, technology is transforming how people consume news and trust cannot be taken for granted. But our purpose remains constant: to report accurately, fairly and independently, and to be there for our readers when they need us.
Journalism is not simply about reporting what happens. It is about helping people understand why it matters.
That is why Journalism Matters Week 2026 matters. Informed communities are stronger for it, and a strong, independent local press is something we should all value, protect and champion.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has added his voice to Journalism Matters Week for 2026, penning the below opinion article for newspapers across the country today.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham writes: Why journalism is a vital part of our national infrastructure
Too much power in this country has flowed one way: towards Westminster and away from the places where people actually live their lives.
This government is changing that. We are putting power and resources back into the hands of communities. Because I want people in local communities to have a bigger say over the decisions that shape their area.
But with greater local power must come local accountability. And that is why local journalism matters.
Local reporters are the people sitting in council chambers, courts and planning meetings, asking the questions that need to be asked. They shine a light on decisions made in people’s name and give communities a voice.
But their role goes much further than holding power to account.
At moments when communities are at their most vulnerable, good local journalism can bring people together and separate fact from fiction. We saw that after Southport and, more recently, in Belfast, when trusted reporters challenged lies and misinformation being spread online.
And I saw its power myself as Mayor of Greater Manchester. When the Manchester Evening News campaigned for free bus travel for homeless children living in temporary accommodation, it didn’t just report what was wrong, it brought people together to get behind the change that was needed.
That is exactly what this year’s Journalism Matters campaign is about: recognising journalism not as a nice-to-have, but as part of the national infrastructure of a healthy country and democracy. It holds power to account, strengthens our resilience and connects people to the places they call home.
And yet access to good local journalism is becoming increasingly unequal. Ninety-five per cent of adults access local news, but the market alone will not sustain it everywhere. Up to 37 local authority districts now have no dedicated outlet of their own, leaving as many as 4.4 million people in local “news deserts”, disproportionately in some of our most deprived urban communities.
I’ve spent my career arguing that where you live should not determine the opportunities you get. I believe exactly the same principle applies to information. People in every part of the country deserve trusted local news, scrutiny of those in power and a strong voice for their community.
So, the government is acting.
Through our Local Media Action Plan, the new Local News Fund will provide up to £12 million over two years. This is part of a wider package of measures we’re delivering to support local journalism.
This year, local newspapers, websites and independent television and radio stations in England and Wales have been able to bid for up to £125,000 to invest in their future, whether that’s new technology, multimedia journalism, reaching younger audiences or finding new ways to bring in revenue.
We have also made up to £275,000 available for projects that strengthen the wider industry. And in the second year, £1 million will help communities bring local journalism back where it has disappeared, whether by reviving a dormant title, expanding a neighbouring publication or establishing a community-owned outlet.
We’re doing this because devolution cannot simply mean moving power from one set of politicians to another. It has to mean giving people more of a say. For that to work, they need to know what is being done in their name. They need journalists willing to ask difficult questions, expose wrongdoing, challenge misinformation and champion their communities.
That is why I am proud to support this year’s Journalism Matters campaign, and why this government will work to ensure trusted local journalism remains at the heart of communities across our country.
