THE Lancashire Telegraph has joined the fight against fake news.

In the run up to this year’s Local Newspaper Week, press publishers have launched the first ever print and digital campaign focusing on the world-wide issue.

The drive is also aiming to highlight the very high levels of trust that readers place in local newspapers.

Starting on Wednesday May 3, Fighting Fake News will see local newspapers across the UK carry editorial and graphics highlighting the industry’s highly-trusted credentials and their importance in reporting on the upcoming General Election.

The Telegraph will highlight the checks and balances involved in reporting local news and the investment required to produce journalism as opposed to distributing fake news to profit from advertising.

The campaign will also highlight the highly-trusted environment which local papers provide for advertisers and commercial partners, following an open letter to advertisers from publishers in the 1XL network earlier this month.

Coordinated through Local Media Works, the local marketing arm of the News Media Association, Fighting Fake News will run up to and alongside Local Newspaper Week which takes place from Monday, May 15, to Sunday, May 21.

The dedicated week highlights local newspapers’ ability to make a difference in their communities.

It will see the industry come together to celebrate the campaigning achievements of local newspapers.

Fran Winrow, the Lancashire Telegraph's head of content, said: “Fake news has become an increasingly concerning problem over the last 12 months.

“People producing it are propagating blatant lies to make money without caring about the consequences.

“In what people have called ‘a new era of fake news’, local newspapers have the responsibility to publish accurate, top-quality journalism to help people become better informed about their local area.”