Kate Adie has spoken out to share her views on the importance of grass roots local newspaper journalism.

The BBC’s chief news correspondent told an audience of regional newspaper publishers that she felt their papers were “part and parcel of how we knit our society together”.

Speaking at the Newspaper Society’s annual Newspaper Sales and Promotions Conference in Birmingham, she also spoke about censorship and freedom of information.

Her own career in journalism began in local radio and she said she would happily go back to local reporting – because she remained fascinated with “the stuff of community life”.

She said: “It’s the interesting, local events that make up the fabric of local life.

“Amazing things happen in villages… The world around us is actually just round the corner.”

The BBC veteran also recalled her own local newspaper, the Sunderland Echo, and said her most vivid memories were of the letters pages, where views, complaints and observations that really matter are made, which are not heard at a national level.

She said: “Especially at a time like now, of international conflict, people must have an outlet for local views and opinions.

“It is hugely important that the grass roots are heard. Without the grass roots, democracy cannot exist.”

And on the subject of censorship, she said that while she encouraged debate she also warned against those “who would like to restrict the flow of information without consulting the public”.

She said: “As a journalist you must always ask, what lies behind this? Who is asking to make the judgement? You must ask these questions vigorously.”

She added: “Your right to get this information should not be rationed by people with political bias. It needs to be honest and accurate.

“Getting the full story, the reality, is difficult. But democracy lives and breathes in the words of newspapers.”

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]