A major international gathering of weekly newspaper editors is to be held in the UK this summer focusing on the importance of providing a community voice.

The one-day seminar on 8 July will feature a host of speakers from the UK local press.

They include Geoff Martin, editor of the Ham and High, Anthony Longden, managing editor of Newsquest North and East London, and Geraldine Allinson, chairman of the KM Group.

The seminar at the University of Warwick in Coventry is part of a four-day conference organised by Jeremy Condliffe, editor and chairman of the Congleton Chronicle and this year’s president of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.

Other speakers will include Tony Jaffa, head of the six-strong media team at solicitors Foot Anstey, Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell, and Paul Francis, KM Group political editor.

Said Jeremy:  “While ultra local news is much talked about, there seems to be little general discussion about how a local paper can take a strong lead in the community it serves, though some newspapers obviously do this.

“I’ve attended six ISWNE conferences, and each time I return home with a greatly increased enthusiasm for publishing a strong community newspaper.

“I am hoping to get a good turn out of English editors, and hopefully at least a few of those will go home equally enthused.”