A Christian MP has argued that newspaper owners should be legally required to offer the community titles they want to sell to combat fake news.
Helen Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland said that newspapers should be treated as "community assets" and warned that a lack of local newspapers is "dangerous".
Goodman argued that without local papers, "fake news" can flourish.
She also added that journalists are becoming exhausted because of a lack of resources.
At a parlimentary debate on the topic, Goodman told MPs in Westminster Hall: ""Normally this is done with pubs but it'd be a good idea if before a newspaper closes a title it is required to offer the title to the local community as a community asset.
"As I've said, I think many of these - like the Camden New Journal - could be run on a financially sustainable basis, could be run by co-ops of the journalists, and I think we need to put this option on to the statute book."
Since 2005, 200 local newspapers have closed.
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