'˜Story helped us find a new home'

Last week, we launched a campaign Fighting Fake News and highlighted the very real dangers of fabricated stories peddled across social media.

We pointed out the lengths we go to to get every story right - from extensive training to upholding some of the most robust standards on the planet.

It is a campaign that is being supported by local papers across the UK.

This week, businesses who depend on newspapers and websites to advertise their services explained why our trusted news reflected well on them - and underpinned their values of quality and care.

The Phoenix Youth Theatre for disabled children in Fleetwood faced closure after teachers Roz Dunning and Paula Hartley revealed the non-profit group was struggling to pay rent to Cardinal Allen School, where classes took place.

But following a report in The Gazette, the group was offered a brand new home courtesy of Lancashire County Council youth services in October last year.

Roz said: “The Gazette did save us at the time. It gave the kids that we work with an extra four months, and they would not have had that if not for that article.

“Children and adults with disabilities need to be supported and the local press helps us do that.

“We can’t shout loud enough for national newspapers like the Daily Mail or The Sun.

“We need to support our local press.

“It really is local news for local people.”

Local hotelier Gerard Walsh said: “It’s a very tricky position that the media is in, whether that’s TV, radio, or the internet. It’s important they remain impartial while conducting their research.

“They do say there’s no smoke without fire, but that’s not always the case, and people need to be mindful of that.

“Hear-say is all well and good but people shouldn’t be too quick to believe it.”