Birmingham and Coventry National Union of Journalists

Decline and fall of the local press
In Victorian times, any sizeable British town was home to several competing local newspapers, some of which, like The Manchester Guardian, Newcastle Chronicle, or Leeds Mercury were major forces for progress.

 . . . . there was no doubt that the British public loved their local papers. Their combined circulation was enormous. Their news content was written by professional journalists working, and usually living, in the communities they covered. Less combative and less racy than the national newspapers, they were judged on the whole to be fairer and more reliable.
Read more: Independent, 24/04/12




EDM 2978: Local And Regional Newspapers (No. 2)
That this House notes with sadness the decision by Johnston Press to move many long-established local newspapers from a daily publication to a weekly publication; condemns this unnecessary move and the implications it will have for the jobs of many journalists, printers, newspaper sellers and newspaper deliveries; praises the role local daily newspapers like the Halifax Courier and other titles in towns like Kettering, Northampton, Peterborough and Scarborough play in local democracy and in reporting the news on a daily basis; further notes the knock-on effect this will have on the local economies of the towns affected; urges Johnston Press to protect existing jobs at the newspaper titles affected and ensure that there are no compulsory job losses; further urges them to consult fully with the National Union of Journalists about their proposals; and hopes that local newspapers will continue to play an important role in the life of local communities for many years to come.

Primary sponsor: Riordan, Linda, date tabled: 18/04/2012
Sponsors:
Clark, Katy
Hancock, Mike
McDonnell, John
Russell, Bob
Turner, Karl
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2978