A regional publisher has launched a call for “coronavirus correspondents” as the industry continues to respond to the outbreak.

Reach plc hyperlocal platform In Your Area is aiming to recruit a “small army” of such correspondents to produce weekly diaries about how they are coping with the crisis.

The diaries will be published in the In Your Area feeds for the correspondents’ neighbourhoods, and may also get picked up by Reach’s network of local newspapers and websites.

The call was announced in a piece by In Your Area editor Tom Gibbon, pictured.

He wrote: “At InYourArea, we are committed to providing the latest news and information to our millions of users about how daily life is changing and, perhaps more importantly, how communities are facing up to it together.

“To that end, we are looking to sign up a small army of Coronavirus Correspondents to produce weekly diaries about how they are coping with the crisis.

“You could be a self-isolator challenging yourself to find ever-more novel ways of staying active, or you might be a volunteer at your local food bank looking for ways to keep the people who rely on you up-to-date with the latest information.

“You might be someone who wants to volunteer to help in your community, in any way you can. Whichever it is, we can help you reach the people you want to and keep them informed.”

Tindle Newspapers has also launched a ‘Helping Hand’ campaign, launched on the front pages of many of its weekly titles.

The company’s papers have carried a form which readers can cut out and give to neighbours, offering their contact details and services they can provide.

Daniel Gee, head of content for Tinel in Surrey, Hampshire & Kent, said: “The response from readers has been really positive – and many of our representatives have already thrown their support behind our campaign.

“Unsolicited, both of our MPs Jeremy Hunt and Damian Hinds name-checked #HelpingHand in their columns in this week’s Herald, and positive stories of kindness and community spirit have already been flooding in.

“We are fortunate to live and work in a wonderfully tight-knit community, and at times like these you have a choice: hope or despair. We choose hope.”