When Queen Elizabeth II stood up for local journalism

Tributes are flooding in for Queen Elizabeth II after it was announced by Buckingham Palace that she had died yesterday in Balmoral, Scotland.

Major news outlets and journalists have also been quick to offer their condolences to the Queen, who reigned over Britain for 70 years.

But local press has a small debt of gratitude to the Queen, who spoke up about the state of the industry during the worst period in Britain in recent memory – the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local newspapers, like South London Press, suffered setbacks in an already challenging industry during that time, like many businesses across the city.

The Queen offered her support and encouraged the public to rely on “trusted, reliable sources of information” that come from local news outlets.

The Queen said in her message: “The Covid-19 pandemic has once again demonstrated what an important public service the established news media provides, both nationally and regionally.

“As our world has changed dramatically, having trusted, reliable sources of information, particularly at a time when there are so many sources competing for our attention, is vital.

“The efforts of the news media to support communities throughout the United Kingdom during the pandemic have been invaluable – whether through fundraising, encouraging volunteering, or providing a lifeline for the elderly and vulnerable to the outside world.”

Pictured top: Queen Elizabeth II at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (Picture: Pixabay)