The North in Numbers -Michael Sheen: Communities left vulnerable to misinformation by 'news gaps'; This episode takes a look at the importance of local news, featuring Hollywood actor Michael Sheen in discussion with journalists Annie Gouk, Jen Williams and Dion Jones.
Byline: By, Annie Gouk
Welsh actor Michael Sheen has warned that news gaps in areas such as his hometown of Port Talbot have left them Michael Sheen during the pandemic.
Sheen has also called on the UK Government to offer more support for independent news outlets in the wake of COVID-19.
His comments came during the latest episode of The North in Numbers podcast, about the importance of local news.
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In the discussion with host Annie Gouk, Jen Williams, politics and investigations editor for the Manchester Evening News, and Dion Jones, brand editor for the North Wales Daily Post and North Wales Live, Sheen said: "There is no local paper in Port Talbot anymore.
"Going back to the 70s there were 11 local reporters all based in Port Talbot, working for five different local newspapers, all vying for stories, all there embedded in the community.
"Now there is none. And you can just imagine how much of a difference that's made.
"Obviously it leaves communities vulnerable to being manipulated by false information and conspiracies, and if you start to trust in anonymous voices on Facebook more than a local, independent news source, then you've got all kinds of trouble."
Williams agreed that local news has been particularly vital during the last 18 months.
She said: "Not everything is a uniform picture, and in fact more than anything that's what COVID has shown -that there is a huge variation in life experiences in different communities across the country.
"And I think if you're not there reporting it from the ground, then there is a danger it gets lost, and there's a danger it gets missed by the people who are making really quite important and life changing decisions."
More titles could now be under threat of closure because of the crisis, with papers up and down the UK affected by a drop in print sales and a lack of ad revenue from local events and businesses.
Jones said: "I think it's fair to say that the industry in general has had a tough time.
"During the pandemic we saw a situation where people couldn't get out of their houses, they were reluctant to go to shops, and that really had an impact on sales.
"Certainly for the first weeks of lockdown that hit us really hard.
"What we did see however was a massive increase in our online traffic.
"That was really heartening for me to be honest, because it obviously proves there are elements of local news that people are really interested in.
"People were desperate to know at that local...
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