WITH misinformation all around  and trust harder to find, new research suggests journalism matters more than ever — and that’s where local papers like the Fremantle Herald come in.

A recent report found “news media has become even more critical” in what it describes as a “post-truth” world, where audiences are actively seeking reliable, fact-checked information. It shows Australians still value journalism highly, with “nine in ten Australians… engaging with it” and many turning to trusted outlets to “fact check information seen on social platforms.”

The findings highlight that while social media may be an “entry point,” just 36 per cent trust what they read, compared to 78 per cent who read content from real news rooms like the Herald’s

But quality journalism takes time, effort and resources — and it’s under pressure.

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