Final plans are being made for this year’s Local Newspaper Week, organised by the Newspaper Society, which runs from May 1 – 7.

The week is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of regional and local newspapers as the backbone of Britain’s media and an integral part of the communities they serve throughout the country.

A new feature this year is the introduction of the first Prince’s Trust Local Reporting Award. This will be given to the writer of an inspiring community story involving a young person aged 14-30 years old.

The award will demonstrate the vital link between local papers and charitable work, that often depend on each other.

Entries can be by a young person from a local community or a reporter working on the newspaper. The story must be published during Local Newspaper Week and newspapers must submit any articles to the Prince’s Trust by May 29. There will be regional winners and an overall winner, to be announced at an awards ceremony in June.

Lynne Gardiner, the Newspaper Society’s head of communications, said: “Last year, Local Newspaper Week was extremely successful with hundreds of newspapers taking part. This year, we hope that every single regional and local title will join in the celebrations, by running news and features, articles and supplements during the Week and by entering for the Local Reporting Award.”

This year, Local Newspaper Week coincides with World Press Freedom Day on May 3, organised by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and World Editors Forum. WAN is the global organisation for the newspaper industry. It defends and promotes press freedom worldwide and represents 17,000 newspapers.

As well as taking part in Local Newspaper Week editorially, the Newspaper Society is encouraging newspapers to set up their own community events, competitions and promotions during the week, to enlist the support of local celebrities and MPs, and to link up with local schools and colleges, community and voluntary groups, councils and newsagents.

The Newspaper Society, the voice of Britain’s regional and local press, represents more than 1,300 daily and weekly, paid-for and free, newspaper titles in the UK.

For further details contact: Lynne Gardiner at the Society on 020 7636 7014 or e-mail her at [email protected]

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