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28 August 2026
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Ethical Journalism

Journalists taking notes at a conference.

Opinion: Why self-uploaded stories are a direct threat to trusted local news

Automated upload portals might save corporate publishers time and money, but they destroy public trust. Here is why proper ethical journalism will always come first for our readers...
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Mobile phone and laptop with social media icons Image Anucha Tiemsom Shutterstock

Keeping conversations constructive: Our social media terms and conditions

Progress Publishing, the publisher of the Bedford Independent and Bedford Clanger, welcomes healthy, respectful debate on our social media channels. We fiercely defend responsible free speech...
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A bus waits patiently as it holds up Bedford High Street traffic while waiting for a pedestrian to cross the road at the Embankment's zebra crossing

Bedford Ian writes…

6 June 2025: Crossing chaos, Keyboard cruelty, Attempted delivery, and Ethical edge. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks...
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A screenshot of the Bedford Independent news home page from 3 June 2025

Bedford Independent celebrates 10,000th story milestone with continued commitment to ethical journalism

The Bedford Independent has reached a major milestone, publishing 10,000 stories since 2018 and becoming a trusted source of news for the Bedford community...
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Why press regulation matters: Corrections, clarifications and transparency – what happens when we get it wrong?

Even the most responsible newsrooms make mistakes. Facts change, people miscommunicate, and sometimes information available at the time turns out to be incomplete or inaccurate...
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Manchester, UK: May 26 2017 - The ocean of floral tributes grows in St Ann's square in the heart of the city centre following a terrorist bombing attack at Manchester arena. Image: Ian Francis/Shutterstock

The importance of context: Why responsible newsrooms don’t always publish every detail

In a fast-paced news cycle, it’s easy to assume that the more information a story contains, the better. But responsible journalism isn’t about publishing everything...
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“You’ll never believe what this councillor said in a meeting yesterday” Imagery depicting clickbait with a vague headline and a fish hook and a hand about to tap on the story.

Clickbait vs credibility: Why responsible news starts with the headline

In the era of print newspapers, headlines were designed to stand out on newsstands. They had to grab attention, fit in a limited space, and sell papers. Tabloid papers such as...
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Reuters building entrance in New York City. Image: Eternalsleeper at English Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

What makes the news and what doesn’t: Editorial judgement explained

In the digital age, where information can be posted instantly and shared even faster, it’s easy to assume that if a newsroom knows something, it should report it. But responsible...
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Protest march against climate change misinformation Fridays For Future Bonn, 10 March 2021. The placard says I can't believe we're marching for facts! Image Mika Baumeister Unsplasg

Why press regulation matters: How it helps protect trust in journalism

Public trust in the media has taken a hit in recent years. From sensationalist headlines to misleading claims circulating online, many readers find it difficult to know which news...
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Journalists assembled outside the Supreme Court in London Image: Steve Nimmons/Wikipedia

UK media law: Why journalists can’t always report names, descriptions, or case details in crime stories

What are the rules of UK media law? Why don’t journalists always name suspects, describe people in police appeals, or report all case details? These questions come up regularly...
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