A senior figure at one of the country’s biggest newspaper publishers has predicted further future investment in the regional press industry.

And Georgina Harvey believes 21st century multimedia developments present bigger and better opportunities for newspapers to connect with readers and advertisers.

The managing director of Trinity Mirror’s regional division was addressing the Newspaper Society’s Local Matters conference.

In her speech Local media…..the new rules of engagement, she said: “Our core values of trust, relevance and integrity will remain. However, as genuine cross-media businesses there will be many more options and opportunities for us and our advertisers.

“The rate of investment by the industry in digital publishing will continue at a pace.

“We will continue to see digital revenues grow and become a material part of our revenues and profits.

“Even now at Trinity Mirror Regionals, digital accounts for almost seven per cent of total revenues and almost ten per cent of profits.

“There will continue to be development in hybrid part-paid and part-free newspaper models.

“Our links with communities will strengthen as we grow digital opportunities.”

Georgina said that embracing the digital age was something the local press should do and recognise that it was a two-way street with the use of citizen journalism and blogging.

She added: “In embracing multimedia, regional publishers have also recognised that the future is about interaction. It’s about a two-way dialogue, not a one-way monologue.

“Given the expanding nature of multimedia there is an increasing importance in publishers and advertisers being able to measure total reach across print and online.

“Our industry will continue to invest in new technology to provide our customers with the quality and range of services they demand now and in the future.

“The challenge for advertisers in the future is going to be engaging with this broad range of new communications channels.”