The Manchester Evening News’s coverage of this week’s terror attack in the city has been hailed as “exceptional” by fellow editors.

As previously reported on HTFP, the city daily produced a 9am special edition the morning after Monday’s attack with 34 pages of coverage, then went on to raise in excess of £1m for the families of the victims.

Now the Society of Editors has lauded the newspaper’s efforts as “an example of exceptional local journalism.”

It said the regional daily’s coverage had kept both the local and international community informed of developments in the aftermath of the atrocity and that its journalists should be applauded for the work they had produced under difficult circumstances.

Day 4 of the MEN’s terror attack coverage today focuses on those who have ‘worked round the clock’ to help the city since Monday night’s atrocity.

The Society said: “In terrible circumstances, the Manchester Evening News has this week proved that local newspapers are an essential and valued source of information in their communities.

“Not only did the paper’s journalists work throughout the night to put together 34 pages of coverage in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity, they have continued to provide comprehensive, sensitive and informative updates on a daily basis in the wake of the attack. A fundraising appeal set up by the paper to support the victims of the bombing has also raised more than £1 million in a matter of days.

“In what must have, at times, been challenging and difficult circumstances, the paper has produced timely reports, asked the difficult questions and provided a voice to a community that is both grief stricken and united.

“An example of truly exceptional local journalism, the MEN’s coverage has provided a trusted and valued source of information and updates for the people of Manchester and a national and international community that stands by its side.”

The journalism trainer and blogger Paul Wiltshire also paid tribute to the MEN in a blog post published today.

Wrote Paul: “I have been hugely impressed by the MEN’s coverage of its biggest story for a generation.

“With a fundraising appeal which has raised more than £1.3 million for the victims’ families, superb writing by the peerless Jen Williams, sensitivity manifested in the decision not to use pictures of evidence at the scene, and finely-judged comprehensive coverage, it’s regional journalism at its best.”

To donate to the Manchester Evening News’ Just Giving appeal visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/westandtogethermanchester