The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the DWP for running a misleading PR campaign about Universal Credit.
The DWP campaign includes unbranded wraparound advertorials and features that promote Universal Credit, but they are not clearly labelled as paid adverts and advertorial information.
The first tranche of features appeared in some Metro newspapers today, as the UN Rapporteur's report on Poverty in the UK is released.
NUJ NEC representative Natasha Hirst said:
"It is a gross injustice and an insult to all disabled people who have shared their stories and to the journalists who have ethically reported on them, for the DWP to dismiss and misrepresent the appalling impact of their damaging system of Universal Credit.
The DWP campaign to disseminate inaccurate and misleading communications about the Governments Universal Credit system is funded by taxpayers' money and in breach of the Government Communication Service propriety guidelines."
Ann Galpin, chair of NUJ disabled members' council and co-chair of the TUC disabled workers' committee, added:
“We are appalled that these misleading wraparounds and features have appeared in the Metro today, coinciding with the release of Philip Alston's report on poverty in the UK, which heavily criticises austerity and welfare reform."
For more information see NUJ concerned by misleading DWP newspaper ads available @ www.nuj.org.uk
See also The DWP’s Universal Credit Uncovered newspaper advert backfires available @ www.newstatesman.com
And also DWP Slammed For News Report Ads Selling Benefits Of Universal Credit available @ www.huffingtonpost.co.uk