Local Papers Celebrate Local Newspaper Week

Local papers across Britain have pulled out all the stops to celebrate Local Newspaper Week this year. 

As part of their coverage of the Week, many titles have run the articles by high profile contributors which this year included David Cameron, Michel Roux Jr, Adam Hart-Davis, Julia Bradbury and Peter Preston.

Papers have run competitions, supplements, features and other editorial and commercial initiatives to mark the annual Week which aims to raise awareness of the importance of local papers.

Many papers such the Evening Star, Evening Gazette, Hartlepool Mail, South London Press, News and Star, Yorkshire Evening Post  and Liverpool Echo highlighted the work they do galvanising readers to support local organisations and good causes while others highlighted their exposure of specific issues in their communities.

The Coventry Telegraph published an account of its coverage of gangs who were terrorising pensioners on a local estate. The coverage resulted in ASBOs for four local youths and a new police office being opened near the estate. 

The Doncaster Free Press reminded readers of its coverage of the poor state of children’s services in the borough - a story which attracted national media attention at the time.

In a round up, the Wirral Globe told how it had successfully campaigned for an investigation into overcharging of care home residents which had eventually resulted in the local authority repaying £250,000 between 16 residents.

The Blackpool Gazette published a feature highlighting its campaigns which included an appeal for a local charity which aids autistic children and their parents. The Bolton News reminded readers of its campaign to raise funds for Marie Cure Cancer Care.  

The Buckinghamshire Advertiser ran a similar feature highlighting their recent campaigns which included coverage of a local couple’s 250km trek across the Arctic to raise cash for a local hospital’s baby care unit. 

The Warrington Guardian gave readers a glimpse of life working at a newspaper by publishing its news diary which included plans for covering the local elections.

Jack Straw, a regular contributor to the Lancashire Telegraph, dedicated his weekly column to highlighting the role of the paper in the community.  

Some titles ran writing competitions for youngsters. The Worcester News, Falkirk Herald and Southern Daily Echo teamed up with the NCTJ to run a competition asking youngsters to submit a 200 word news article for a shot at winning a cash prize and week’s work experience.

The Carluke Gazette ran an essay competition for local schoolchildren with the winner being given the opportunity to design a page of the newspaper with classmates, while the Dewsbury Reporter offered local schoolchildren the chance to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the paper.

The Bury Times published quotes from a local boxer and the director of Bury Football Club who both explained the importance of coverage in the paper to their careers in sport.

The Dumfries Courier ran a competition inviting readers to send photos that best encapsulated the identity and character of the area.

Express and Star columnist Peter Rhodes and Birmingham Mail editor David Brookes spoke about local media on BBC Radio WM’s Mornings With Joanne Malin during the Week.

The Oldham Evening Chronicle’s coverage highlighted the paper’s digital innovations and the Tenby Observer, owned by Sir Ray Tindle who wrote a message for the Week, published a detailed account of its 156-year history. 

Yorkshire Evening Post editor Paul Napier wrote a piece explaining how readers have a role in shaping the paper.