Almost three quarters of people believe their local media helps them feel a sense of pride in their community, according to a new report.

The report, which was released today, was undertaken by Deloitte on behalf of the News Media Association, the trade body for regional and national newspapers.

It found that 11,200 people currently employed in the UK are directly involved in journalism and content creation, representing 39pc of all full-time equivalent positions held within news media organisations.

However, the report also warned that although digital revenues are increasing, the rise is not enough to offset the fall in print revenues – with total revenue falling by half between 2003 and 2015.

Specifically discussing local newspapers, the report described the sector as “the glue for communities and social cohesion”.

It cited research by Crowd DNA, which found 73pc of respondents felt their local media was important in helping them feel a sense of pride in their community – compared to 22pc who believed the internet did so, and 11pc who felt the same about television or commercial radio.

Welcoming the report, NMA chairman and Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield said: “This report provides compelling evidence of the significant economic, cultural and social value that news media contributes to the UK.

“The industry performs a unique democratic function by investing in agenda-setting investigative journalism which holds authority to account such as The Guardian’s Panama Papers revelations, the Sunday Times’ investigation into FIFA, and the Jersey Evening Post’s investigation into online child grooming which was praised by the NSPCC.

“The report also presents the challenges the industry is facing. This highlights the urgent need for a fair and equitable regime in which news media publishers’ investment in news is appropriately acknowledged and rewarded, without the commercial benefits being siphoned off by digital platforms and aggregators.”

The full report can be read here.