More than 500 regional newspaper ran features, stories and events for Local Newspaper Week 2001, making it the most successful yet.

The Week is run by the Newspaper Society to highlight the role played by regional and local newspapers in their communities.

This was the fourth Local Newspaper Week, when newspapers got involved in activities, competitions and events – and wrote about it.

The week, which ran from May 14-20 was also covered by the national press, trade press and BBC local radio.

Among the highlights were Alec Davidson, president of the Newspaper Society, giving a series of interviews to BBC local radio stations on the success of regional press and the increasing importance of local life in today’s society.

Brian MacArthur wrote an article for The Times, Locals Matter focusing on regional press coverage of the general election and the importance of local newspapers to MPs.

The Media Guardian article Let’s Hear it for the Rag Trade, by Roy Greenslade, covered Local Newspaper Week initiatives by weekly newspapers and examined their role in local communities.

The Society received hundreds of cuttings from regional and local newspapers this year.

Most ran articles by Prince Charles, celebrity presenter Zoe Ball and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Many newspapers generated their own supplements and features on successful campaigns, the history of their newspapers, behind the scenes look at newspaper production, views of local readers, local celebrities and MPs.

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