Abstract

This paper looks at some of the major trends in the UK newspaper industry — circulation shifts, format changes, ethical controversies, the re-emergence of the frees,
the revival of the alternatives — in the context of the debate over trust in the mainstream media and political elites. It also identifies the elements of authentic communication that are needed for trust to exist between the newspaper writer/producer and the reader. The radical newspapers of the early 19th century are presented as examples of authentic journalism. While there are opportunities for the development of authentic journalism
within the mainstream, it is suggested that the internet and today’s alternative press are opening up the best possibilities for the development of trustworthy media.