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'Open an account at Northern Rock', Journal tells readers

Newcastle’s The Journal has called on its readers to show support for troubled bank Northern Rock – by opening an account.

The title is urging the region to “rally around a true North East institution”, and says that good causes in the North have received £175m from Northern Rock in the past ten years.

Now it is campaigning for those who have previously received help to show their faith in the bank.

And it is asking them to encourage others to do the same by e-mailing an electronic campaign front page of The Journal to all their contacts.

Editor Brian Aitken told readers: “Northern Rock is a hugely important part of the North East. It employs more than 6,000 people, the Northern Rock Foundation has pumped £175m into the good causes here and it is a figurehead for the economic strength of the region.

“We must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Rock in this difficult time. We must back up our words of support by investing what we can and give real help to a great North-East company.”

Since news broke that cash-flow problems had forced Northern Rock to ask for an unlimited emergency loan facility from the Bank of England, the story has featured prominently in The Journal.

It has reported advice from experts urging savers not to panic, and printed a detailed question and answer feature to help readers fully understand the situation.

It has also reported on who benefits from the Northern Rock Foundation, and published an open letter from Northern Rock chief executive Adam Applegarth apologising to customers for the “anxiety and inconvenience” they have suffered.