News organizations across the United Kingdom have united to mark World News Day 2025, emphasizing the critical importance of trusted, fact-based journalism in an era increasingly dominated by misinformation and digital threats. Publications including the Express, Mirror, Manchester Evening News, and numerous regional outlets have joined forces to highlight the essential role journalists play in separating rumors from facts and holding power to account. This collective effort comes at a time when access to reliable information has never been more crucial, yet the journalism profession faces unprecedented challenges.

The threats to journalism have escalated dramatically in 2025, with global statistics revealing a deadly environment for reporters worldwide. According to available data, 48 journalists have been killed this year alone, while more than 70 remain missing globally and over 350 are imprisoned due to their work. In many documented cases, these journalists were covering stories that would otherwise have remained untold, underscoring the vital function of news organizations in bringing important information to public attention despite significant personal risks.

Within the UK, journalists face growing dangers simply for performing their professional duties. Threats and acts of violence against media personnel have increased substantially, with online threats of violence or attempts to discredit and intimidate journalists more than doubling year-on-year at Reach plc alone. Journalists are increasingly becoming victims of stalking and harassment, creating a hostile environment that challenges their ability to report freely and accurately. These domestic threats compound broader challenges including government funding cuts to journalism courses and the difficulties in accessing reliable information posed by social media platforms and big tech companies.

Despite these mounting pressures, local news organizations continue to demonstrate their value to communities by covering stories that matter where people live. Publications like Gloucestershire Live and Leicestershire Live have broken significant stories ranging from investigations into mental health ward failings and social housing conditions to coverage of local events and holding local authorities accountable. These outlets emphasize their commitment to being relevant, flexible, and trustworthy while acknowledging the risks required to meet audience demands for fresh, verified information as stories unfold. In times of both celebration and difficulty, these news providers remain trusted sources of factual reporting for their readers.

King Charles has joined forces with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in a previously unpublicized podcast recording focused on global conservation efforts. The 22-minute episode, titled "Unearthed: The Need For Seeds," was recorded in the private gardens of Windsor Castle in July and features the monarch alongside Blanchett and Kew seed scientist Dr. Elinor Breman. This marks only the second podcast recording in the King's public life, demonstrating his continued commitment to environmental causes that have defined much of his royal work.

The conversation centered on the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, West Sussex, which King Charles originally opened in 2000 and has maintained an active interest in since. The facility represents one of the world's most ambitious conservation projects, having collected, cleaned, dried and stored nearly 2.5 billion seeds from more than 40,000 plant species in walk-in freezers maintained at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Both the King and Blanchett, who became Wakehurst's first ambassador last year, emphasized the critical importance of this work in preserving global biodiversity.

During the discussion, Blanchett expressed concern about the rapid loss of natural habitats, noting that "97 percent of wildflower meadows have been decimated" in recent decades. She highlighted the disconnect between perceived natural beauty and actual ecological fragility, stating that "there is an urgency to the work that the seed bank does." The King echoed this sentiment, reflecting on his long-standing awareness of environmental degradation, particularly the damage to flower-rich meadows since the postwar period.

The podcast also touched on broader conservation challenges, including the need for increased funding and public awareness. Blanchett pointed to the frustration of seeing "so many extraordinary initiatives right there ready to be scaled up" but lacking financial support and direction. King Charles acknowledged both the progress made and the need to accelerate conservation efforts, stating that while the seed bank's work is "wonderful," the process must speed up to address escalating environmental threats facing plant species worldwide.