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About the NS
About the Newspaper Society

The NS represents and promotes the interests of Britain's regional and local media. It was founded in 1836 and is believed to be the oldest publishers' association in the world. The sector is focused on providing local news and information across its 1,200 daily and weekly, paid-for and free newspaper titles, as well as 1500 websites, 600 niche/ultra local titles, 43 radio stations and two TV stations.

 

Its services are split into three broad areas: lobbying, marketing and communications.  It provides legal advice and lobbying services to regional newspaper publishers and their staff, and also to the national newspaper, magazine and distribution industries. It promotes local media to national advertisers and agencies.  It holds a series of conferences and seminars and runs the annual Local Newspaper Week.
 
The NS is a member of UK Publishing Media, an £22 billion alliance of newspapers, magazines and books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission Statement

Newspaper map UK

“The NS is the voice of Britain's regional and local media. It exists to promote newspapers' interests in all political, legal and regulatory matters and to promote their strengths as news and marketing media.”
 
 
The Society's services are split into three main areas; Marketing, PERA (Political, Editorial and Regulatory Affairs) and Communications, each under the control and guidance of the membership through the committee structure and the director, David Newell, the Society's chief executive.
 
PERA
 
PERA gathers the Society's government and legal affairs, advertising control, employment affairs and training activities together under one umbrella.

It offers core membership services, including information provision, representation and lobbying, as well as unique individual legal advice, consultancy and training services.
 
Communications
 
The communications team handles all press enquiries and general industry information requests and provide circulation and distribution information. It is responsible for the Society's communications strategy, promotional activities, events and awards and sponsorship, its corporate image, publications and websites.
 
It organises public relations support and publicity for conferences and all other major Society initiatives, campaigns and projects.

The communications team also provides editorial and technical services to members.
 
Marketing
 
The Society's marketing arm aims to improve the usage and understanding of the regional press as a medium by advertisers and agencies, to provide detailed information on the industry and regional markets, and to offer a support network for publishers at a local level.
 
The Newspaper Society Management Team
 
 
David NewellDavid Newell , Director
 
David Newell is the Director of the Newspaper Society and the Newspaper Publishers Association. He is a Solicitor and previously was a University academic and legal advisor. He is the author of a number of books and articles and has received awards for his representational work for the industry.
 
 
Santha Rasaiah
Santha Rasaiah, Political, Editorial & Regulatory Affairs (PERA) Director

Santha Rasaiah is the Political, Editorial and Regulatory Affairs Director of the Newspaper Society. She read Jurisprudence at Oxford University and then qualified as a barrister, after receiving an Entrance Bursary and Harmsworth Scholarship from the Middle Temple. She has previously worked in publishing and contributed to various media law books and articles. She has received awards for her representational work on behalf of the industry.

 
Lynne AndersonLynne Anderson, Communications Director
 
Lynne Anderson is the Communications Director of the Newspaper Society with responsibility for its overall communications strategy and corporate affairs work, as well as editorial facilities and circulation/audience issues for the NS and the NPA. She is a former newspaper journalist and editor.
 
 
Robert RayRobert Ray, Marketing Director
 
Before joining the NS Robert ran his own communications consultancy working within the media/advertising sector focused on business development strategy at a high level for both UK and overseas companies. Prior to this Robert spent 2000-2003 as Managing Director of Starcom Worldwide and from the mid-90’s he was joint Managing Director of MediaVest UK – one of the UK’s largest and most successful media planning & buying agencies.
 

NS President, Officers, Chairmen

Georgina Harvey

 

 

President
Georgina Harvey, Trinity Mirror Regionals

 

 
Geraldine Allinson

Vice President

Geraldine Allinson, Kent Messenger Group

 
Adrian Jeakings Treasurer
Adrian Jeakings, Archant
David Fordham

IPF Chairman

David Fordham, Iliffe News and Media

 
Danny Cammiade Marketing Committee Chairman
Danny Cammiade, Johnston Press plc
John Fry
PERA Committee Chairman
John Fry, Johnston Press plc