CAROLINE WATERSTON: Why journalism matters more than ever

On World News Day we are shouting louder than ever about the importance of trusted journalism

Who cares about free school meals for every child in Britain? About getting an NHS dentist when you need one?

Who cares about tougher sentences for domestic abusers who kill? About cracking down on rogue cosmetic clinics?

Who cares about the cost of living, and how to help you and your family live a better life?

We do. The Mirror.

For more than a century we’ve fought for fairness, justice and change. After the Titanic, when the poorest died needlessly, we campaigned for more lifeboats. We stood up against the ivory trade and seal clubbing, helping to create the World Wildlife Fund.

We stood shoulder to shoulder with the families of the 97 victims of Hillsborough until the truth was told. We’ve changed lives and laws — from Max and Keira’s Law on organ donation to our annual Pride of Britain Awards, which honour ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

That’s who we are. We report with energy, passion and accuracy. We cover the stories that matter where you live.

We shine a light on injustice. We stand up for the underdog. And yes, we take risks, because truth matters.

Which is why today — on World News Day — we are shouting louder than ever about the importance of trusted journalism.

Because right now, it has never been harder to be a journalist, or more dangerous.

Already in 2025, 48 journalists have been killed. More than 70 are missing. More than 350 are behind bars — punished simply for telling the truth.

At the same time, journalism in the UK faces its own threats.

Journalism university and college courses are losing government funding.

Big tech and social media drown fact-checked reporting in a sea of opinion, fake news and conspiracy. If those who try to silence journalists succeed, what’s left?

A world where truth is buried, accountability vanishes and the stories that matter to you — about your family, your community, your country — go untold.

That’s why trusted journalism matters. To expose wrongdoing.

To hold power to account. To fight for change. To celebrate the best of us. To tell the truth.

So today, on World News Day, join us. Choose Truth. Choose Facts. Choose Journalism.