Overview

• CambridgeshireLive, Nottinghamshire Live and Belfast Live published coordinated editorials on 28 September for World News Day to champion fact‑checked local reporting and its watchdog role in daily community life.
• The coverage cites a global toll this year of 48 journalists killed, more than 70 missing and over 350 imprisoned for their work.
• The editorials describe escalating UK harassment and stalking of reporters, with Belfast Live also alleging police spying on journalists.
• Reach reports that online threats to its journalists more than doubled year on year, reflecting attempts to intimidate or discredit staff.
• Editors warn that cuts to journalism course funding plus social media and big tech dynamics are eroding access to reliable information, risking weaker scrutiny of councils, courts and local services, with Nottinghamshire Live highlighting a dispute with the county council that was raised in the US Congress.