A NORTH-EAST MP says journalism is a force for good, but will continue to face a number of threats.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman recently became chair of the National Union of Journalists’ Parliamentary Group, following in the steps of the likes of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

She told the union’s annual conference that journalism faced both economic and technological threats and sections of the industry were in a fragile state.

Mrs Goodman commented on the mass leak of financial and legal records – known as the Panama Papers – earlier this year and said there had been excellent, diligent work by journalists to tease out revelations from it.

She said: “It shows just how important journalism can be in holding the rich and powerful to account.”

The MP said the Parliamentary Group would resist attacks on the BBC by its opponents and any attempt to privatise Channel 4.